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Copied  from  Patrick  McDowell's  celebrated  statue,  entitled,  "The  Triumph  of  Love. 


Plain  Facts  for  Old  and  Young 


OR  THE 


SCIENCE  OF  HUMAN  LIFE 

FROM  INFANCY  TO  OLD  AGE 


AN  ILLUSTRATED 

Cyclopedia  of  Special  Knowledge 
for  All  Classes 

ON  THE 

HYGIENE  OF  SEX 

Comprising  the  Anatomy  and  Physiology  of  Reproduction  in  Man,  Illustrating  the  Won 
derfully  Interesting  Sexual  Phenomena  presented  by  Plants  and  Lower  Animal 
Forms,  and  Discussing  in  a  Comprehensive  and  Practical  Way  all  Import- 
ant Questions  Relating  to  the  Functions  Characteristic  of  Sex  in 
Health  and  Disease ;    with  an  Introductory  Chapter  on 
General  Anatomy  and    Physiology,   and    a   Con- 
cluding  Chapter    on    Obstetrics    and    the 
Care   and  Feeding    of   Infants 


By  J.  H.  KELLOGG,  M.  D. 

Member  of  the  British  and  American  Associations  for  the  Adx'ance- 

merit  of  Science,  American  Public  Health  Association,  American 

Society   of  Microscopists,   the  Societe   d'Hyyiene   of  France, 

Editor    "Oood    Health,"    Author    of    "Home    Book    of 

Modern   Medicine,"  Late  Member  Michiyan  State 

Board      of     Health,     Superintendent     Battle 

Creek     (Mich.)    Sanitarium,    Etc.,    Etc. 


Third  Hundred  Thousand  Sold  by  Subscription 


GOOD  HEALTH  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

BATTLE  CREEK.  MICH. 
1910 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1903, 

By  J.  H.  Kellogg,  M.  D., 

ill  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


All  Rights  Reserved. 


PREFACE 


THE  author  of  this  work  offers  no  apology  for 
presenting  it  to  the  reading  public,  since  the 
wide  prevalence  of  the  evils  which  it  exposes 
is  sufficient  warrant  for  its  publication.  The  subjects 
with  which  it  deals  are  of  vital  consequence  to  the 
human  race;  and  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that 
every  effort  should  be  made  to  dispel  the  gross  igno- 
rance which  almost  universally  prevails,  by  the  wide 
diffusion,  in  a  proper  manner,  of  information  of  the 
character  contained  in  this  volume. 

This  book  has  been  written,  not  for  parents  only, 
nor  for  any  single  class  of  persons,  but  for  all  who 
are  capable  of  understanding  and  appreciating  it.  The 
prime  object  in  calling  attention  to  the  increasing 
prevalence  of  sexual  excesses  of  ail  kinds,  and  the  ter- 
rible results  which  inevitably  follow  the  violation  of 
sexual  law,  is  to  protect  the  innocent,  enlighten  the 
ignorant,  and  hold  up  a  high  standard  for  clean  and 
wholesome  living. 

In  order  to  make  more  clear  and  comprehensible  the 
teachings  of  nature  respecting  the  laws  regulating  the 
sexual  function,  and  the  evils  resulting  from  their  vio- 
lation, it  has  seemed  necessary  to  preface  the  practical 
part  of  the  subject  by  a  concise  description  of  the  anat- 
omy and  physiology  of  reproduction.  In  this  portion 
of  the  work,  especial  pains  has  been  taken  to  avoid 
anything  like  indelicacy  of  expression,  yet  it  has  not 
been  deemed  advisable  to  sacrifice  perspicuity  of  ideas 
to  prudish  notions  of  modesty.  It  is  hoped  that  the 
reader  will  bear  in  mind  that  the  language  of  science 

m 


IV  PREFACE 


is  always  chaste  in  itself,  and  that  it  is  only  through 
a  corrupt  imagination  that  it  becomes  invested  with 
impurity.  The  author  has  constantly  endeavored  to 
impart  information  in  the  most  straightforward,  sim- 
ple, and  concise  manner. 

The  publishers  recognize  the  fact  that  this  work 
should  be  judiciously  circulated,  and  to  secure  this  will 
take  care  to  place  it  in  the  hands  of  agents  competent 
to  present  it  with  discretion;  yet  it  may  be  read  with- 
out injury  by  any  one  who  is  sufficiently  mature  to 
understand  it.  Great  care  has  been  taken  to  exclude 
from  its  pages  those  accounts  of  the  habits  of  vicious 
persons,  and  descriptions  of  the  mechanical  accessories 
of  vice,  with  which  many  works  upon  sexual  subjects 
abound,  and  which  can  only  lead  to  evil  by  imparting 
knowledge  which  has  no  element  of  saving  grace. 

The  first  editions  of  the  work  were  issued  with  no 
little  anxiety  on  the  part  of  both  author  and  publishers 
as  to  how  it  would  be  received  by  the  reading  public. 
It  was  anticipated  that  no  little  adverse  criticism,  and 
perhaps  severe  condemnation,  would  be  pronounced 
by  many  whose  education  and  general  mode  of  thought 
had  not  been  such  as  to  prepare  them  to  appreciate  it ; 
but  it  was  hoped  that  persons  of  more  thoughtful  and 
unbiased  minds  would  receive  the  work  kindly  and 
with  appreciation.  This  anticipation  has  been  more 
than  realized,  Wherever  the  book  has  been  introduced 
it  has  met  with  a  warm  reception;  and  of  the  many 
thousand  persons  into  whose  hands  it  has  been  placed, 
hundreds  have  gratefully  acknowledged  the  benefit 
which  they  have  received  from  its  perusal,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  a  large  proportion  have  been  greatly  bene- 
fited. 

The  addition  of  two  whole  chapters  for  the  purpose 
of  illustrating  how  this  subject  may  be  brought  before 


PREFACE  V 

the  minds  of  boys  and  girls  in  a  proper  manner,  adds 
greatly  to  the  interest  and  value  of  the  work,  as  there 
seemed  to  be  a  deficiency  in  this  particular  in  the  former 
editions.  J.  H.  K. 

Battle  Creek,  IMich., 

October,  1879. 


PREFACE  TO  ENLARGED  EDITIONS 

Since  the  preceding  paragraphs  were  written, 
nearly  one  hundred  thousand  copies  of  this  work  have 
been  placed  in  the  hands  of  interested  readers  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  United  States.  One  large  edition  has 
followed  another  with  such  rapidity  that  the  plates 
became  considerably  worn,  and  the  book  has  been 
entirely  reset,  and  several  new  chapters  have  been 
added. 

Both  the  author  and  the  publisher  desire  to  express 
to  the  reading  public  their  sincere  thanks  for  the  gen- 
erous support  which  has  been  accorded  their  efforts 
in  behalf  of  popular  education  upon  a  subject  so  uni- 
versally ignored  and  tabooed.  The  wall  of  prejudice, 
which  in  the  early  years  of  the  introduction  of  this 
work  threatened  to  present  a  serious  obstacle  to  its 
usefulness,  has  been  gradually  broken  down,  and  there 
is  evidence  among  the  more  intelligent  class  of  people 
of  an  increasing  sentiment  favoring  the  frank  and  open 
consideration  of  the  subjects  herein  presented. 

December,  1885.  J.  H.  K. 

Note. —  After  the  sale  of  nearly  two  hundred  thousand  copies  of 
this  work,  it  is  still  in  demand.  In  the  preparation  of  this  edition, 
much  valuable  matter  has  been  added,  considerably  enhancing  the  value 
of  the  work  which  has  already  received  so  cordial  a  welcome  from 
the  reading  public. 

J.  H.  K. 

January,  1894. 


VI  PREFACE 


THE  TWENTIETH   CENTURY  ILLUS- 
TRATED EDITION 

More  than  a  quarter  of  a  million  copies  of  this  work 
have  been  printed,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  inter- 
ested readers  in  all  parts  of  the  English-speaking  world. 
Many  thousands  of  letters  received  by  the  author  and 
publishers  have  testified  to  the  value  and  usefulness 
of  the  information  presented,  and  of  the  method  em- 
ployed in  imparting  special  physiological  facts.  The 
subject  is  one  of  perennial  interest  and  supreme  prac- 
tical importance. 

In  bringing  out  this  illustrated  edition,  the  pub- 
lishers have  the  utmost  confidence  that  the  generous 
appreciation  hitherto  accorded  this  work  will  be  con- 
tinued, and  that  its  mission  of  usefulness  will  be  still 
further  amplified  and  extended. 

Publishers. 

June,  1901. 


REVISED  AND  ENLARGED  EDITION 

The  destruction  of  the  plates  of  this  work  by  fire 
has  given  the  editor  and  publisher  an  opportunity  for 
its  thorough  revision  and  the  addition  of  several  valu- 
able features,  especially  a  chapter  on  general  anatomy 
and  physiology,  giving  a  brief  outline  of  the  "body 
temple,"  a  chapter  on  the  use  of  simple  remedies  for 
disease,  emergencies,  etc.,  and  chaj^ters  on  obstetrics 
and  the  care  of  infants. 

July,   IQ03. 


CONTENTS 


t 


PREFACES  iii-vi 

TABLE  OF  CONTENTS vii-xix 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS xx-xxii 


INTRODUCTION 

Objections  considered— Is  knowledge  dangerous? 
— "VMien  shall  information  be  given?— How  to 
impart  knowledge— Eminent  testimony 23-36 


GENERAL  ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY 

("THE  BODY  TEMPLE") 

Microscopic  wonders— The  beginning  of  life— A 
live    sponge— Men    and    sponges— 200    bones 

—  Cultivated  deformities— 500  muscles— How 
a  muscle  works— Uses  of  muscles— A  live  pump 
—The  two  hearts— Arteries  and  veins— Six 
quarts  of  blood— Queer  things  in  the  blood- 
Traveling  tinkers— How  the  blood  circulates— 
How  to  take  care  of  the  heart— Bad  blood— 
2,000  feet  of  lungs— Drinking  air— A  plant  that 
eats  flies— Thirty  feet  of  stomach— A  live  mill 

—  Five  wonderful  fluids— Digestion  of  a  mouth- 
ful of  bread— Three  and  one-half  pounds  of 
liver— The  business  of  bile— Liver  work- 
Twenty  square  feet  of  skin— The  kidneys— 
Three  pounds  of  brains— 1,200,000,000  nerve 
cells— Queer  thinking— Brain  and  mind- 
Spinal  cord— Our  eyes— Our  ears— The  nose— 
How  and  what  we  taste 37-67 


SEX  IN  LIVING   FORMS 

Living    beings— Microscopic    life— Animals     and 
vegetables— Protoplasm— Life  force 68-71 

vii 


Vlll  CONTENTS 


REPRODUCTION 

Reproduction  common  to  all  living  things— Spon- 
taneous generation— Germs— Origin  of  life- 
Simplest  form  of  generation— Low  forms  of 
life— Sex— Hermaphrodism— Sex  in  plants- 
Sex  in  animals— Other  se:^ual  differences— Men 
and  women  differ  in  form— The  male  and  the 
female  brain— Vital  organs  of  man  and  woman 
—Woman  less  muscular,  more  enduring— A 
pathological  difference— Why  a  woman  does 
not  breathe  like  a  man— The  reproductive  ele- 
ments—Sexual organs  of  plants— Vegetable 
husbands— Polygamous  flowers— The  female 
organs  of  flowers— Sexual  organs  of  animals— 
The  spermatozoon— Spermatozoa— The  ovum— 
Ovulation— Fecundation— Fecundation  in  flow- 
ers—Natural adaptations— Curious  modes  of 
fecundation  in  animals— Union  of  the  ovum  and 
zoosperm— Curious  modes  of  reproduction— 
Parthenogenesis— Human  beings  are  developed 
buds  —  Complemental  males  —  Development  — 
Unprotected  development— Partial  protection 
of  the  ovum— Development  in  the  higher  ani- 
mals and  man— The  uterus— Gestation,  or 
pregnancy— The  primitive  trace— Simplicity  of 
early  structures— The  stages  of  growth— Dura- 
tion of  gestation— Uterine  life— How  the  un- 
born infant  breathes— Parturition,  or  child- 
birth—Changes in  the  child  at  birth— Nurs- 
ing     72-114 

ANATOMY  OF  THE  REPRODUCTIVE  ORGANS 

Male  organs— The  prostate  gland — Female  organs 
—  Puberty— Causes  which  delay  puberty— In- 
fluence of  diet  on  puberty— A  caution— Bru- 
nettes precocious  —  Remarkable  precocity  — 
Premature  development  occasions  early  decay 


CONTENTS  IX 


—Early  puberty  a  cause  for  anxiety— Changes 
which  occur  at  puberty — Menstruation— Na- 
ture of  menstruation— Extra-uterine  pregnancy 

—  Twins  —  Superf  etation  —  Monsters  —  Strange 
freaks  of  development— Hybrids— Law  of  sex 

—  Controlling      sex— Circumcision— Castration 
-Spaying  115-141 


SEXUAL  HYGIENE 

Sexual  precocity— Various  causes  of  sexual  pre- 
cocity—Senile  sensuality— Satyriasis 142-149 

MARRIAGE 

Time  to  marry— Application  of  the  law  of  hered- 
ity—Early marriage— Mutual  adaptation— A 
dangerous  doctrine— Disparity  of  age — A  do- 
mestic purgatory— Courtship— Courtship  in 
Prance — A  Jewish  custom— Long  courtships— 
— Advice  about  getting  married— Flirtation- 
Youthful  flirtations— Polygamy— A  defense  of 
polygamy— Arguments  of  polygamists  an- 
swered—Polyandry—Divorce—Who may  not 
marry— Physical  influence  of  marriage— Dis- 
eased persons  should  not  marry— Should  cous- 
ins marry?— Deformed  persons  should  not 
marry— Criminals  should  not  marry— Inter- 
marriage of  races  not  advisable— Improvident 
persons  should  not  marry— Reformed  rakes,  149-187 

CONTINENCE 

Continence  not  injurious— Continence  does  not 
produce  impotence— A  hint  from  lower  ani- 
mals—Difficulty of  continence— Internal  secre- 
tions—Helps to  continence— The  will— Diet— 
Exercise— Bathing— Peligion 188-207 


CONTENTS 


UNCHASTITY 

Mental  uncliastity— Mental  nncleanness— Filthy 
dreams— Unchaste  conversation— Foul  gossip— 
Causes  of  unchastity— Libidinous  blood— Early 
causes— Diet  versus  chastity— Tobacco  and  vice 
—Obscene  books— The  work  of  Mr.  Comstock 

—  Sentimental  literature— "Religious  novels" 
—A  modern  plague— Idleness— Dress  and  sen- 
suality—How young  women  fall— Fashion  and 
vice— Reform  in  dress  needed— Fashionable 
dissipation— The  influence  of  luxury— Round 
dances— A  woman's  view  of  dancing— Physical 
causes  of  unchastity— Constipation— Intestinal 
worms— Local  uncleanliness— Irritation  of  the 
bladder— Leucorrhea— Modern  modes  of  life- 
Nervous  irritability 208-237 

THE   SOCIAL   EVIL 

Unchastity  in  ancient  times— State  of  modern  soci- 
ety—Responsibility of  mothers— Causes  of  the 
social  evil— Man's  lewdness— Fashion— Lack 
of  early  training— Poverty— Ignorance— Dis- 
ease—Nymphomania— Results  of  licentiousness 

—  Thousands  of  victims— Effects  of  vice  inerad- 
icable—The only  hope— Hereditary  effects  of 
venereal  disease— Origin  of  the  foul  disease- 
Cure  of  the  social  evil— Race  deterioration— 
Prevention  the  only  cure— Early  training— 
The  White  Cross  Army— Teach  self-control  — 
Mental  culture— Early  associations 238-266 

SOLITARY   VICE 

Alarming  prevalence  of  the  vice— Testimony  of 
eminent  authors— Not  a  modern  vice— Victims 
of  all  ages— Unsuspected  wickedness— Causes 
of  the  habit— Evil  associations— Corruption  in 
schools— Wicked    nurses— Local     disease— An 


CONTENTS  •  Xi 


illustrative  case— Other  physical  causes— luflu- 
euce  of  stimulants— Sexual  perversion— Signs 
of  self -abuse— Suspicious  signs— General  debil- 
ity— Early  symptoms  of  consumption — Prema- 
ture and  defective  development  —  Sudden 
change  of  disposition— Lassitude— Dulness— 
Sleeplessness— Failure  of  mental  capacity- 
Fickleness— Untrustworthiness— Love  of  soli- 
tude — B ashf ulness — Unnatural  boldness — Mock 
piety — Timidity— Confusion  of  ideas— Round 
shoulders —Weak  back— Paralysis — Gait  -  Bad 
positions — Deficient  development— Capricious 
appetite— Perverted  appetite— Use  of  tobacco 
—Pallor— Pimples— Biting  finger  nails— Lus- 
terless  eyes— Moist,  cold  hands— Palpitation- 
Hysteria  —  Chlorosis  —  Epilepsy  —  Enuresis  — 
Positive  signs 267-292 

RESULTS  OF   SECRET   VICE 

Effects  in  males— Local  effects— Urethral  irrita- 
tion—Stricture—Enlarged 13  rostate— Urinary 
diseases  —  Priapism  —  Piles  —  Hypospadias  — 
Extension  of  irritation— Wasting  of  the  testes 
— Var  i  cocele — Nocturnal  emi  ssions — Exciting 
causes— Are  occasional  emissions  necessary  or 
harmless!— Emissions  not  necessary  to  health 
—  Eminent  testimony  —  Diurnal  emissions  — 
Causes  of  diurnal  emissions— Internal  emis- 
sions—An important  caution— Spermatorrhea 
—Impotence— General  effects— General  debil- 
ity—Consumption—Dyspepsia—Heart disease 
—Throat  affections— Nervous  diseases— Epi- 
lepsy—Failure  of  special  senses— Spinal  irri- 
tation—Insanity—Idiocy—A victim's  mental 
condition  pictured— Effects  in  females— Local 
effects  —  Leucorrhea  —  Uterine  disease  —Dis- 
placements of  the  womb— Sterility— Atrophy 
of  mammae- Pruritis,  or  itching  genitals— Noc- 
turnal ejaculation  in  females— General  effects 


CONTENTS 


—  Spinal  irritation — A  common  cause  of  hys- 
teria—Effects upon  offspring— Neglect  dan- 
gerous   293-319 


TREATMENT  OF  SELF-ABUSE  AND  ITS  EFFECTS 

Prevention  of  secret  vice— Cultivate  chastity— 
Timely  warning — Early  instruction— A  dark 
picture— Curative  treatment  of  the  effects  of 
self-abuse— Cure  of  the  habit— Cure  of  the 
habit  in  children -Cure  of  the  habit  in  adults 
— A  curative  operation— How  may  a  person 
help  himself  ?— Hopeful  courage  — General  regi- 
men and  treatment— Mental  and  moral  treat- 
ment—Control of  the  thoughts— Exercise— Diet 
—  Sleeping  —  Dreams  —  Can  dreams  be  con- 
trolled f— Bathing— Improvement  of  general 
health— Prostitution  as  a  remedy— Marriage— 
Local  treatment— Simple  Methods  of  Treat- 
ment—The cool  sitz  bath— The  hot  sitz  bath— 
The  neutral  sitz  bath— The  cold  towel  rub— The 
morning  bath— The  evening  bath— The  bladder 
douche— The  spinal  douche— Local  fomenta- 
tions—Local cold  bathing— The  enema— Elec- 
tricity— Internal  applications — Use  of  electric- 
ity —  Circumcision  —  Impotence  —  Varicocele  — 
Treatment  .of  the  disease  in  women— Drugs, 
rings,  etc.  — Quacks— Closing  advdce 320-364 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    BOYS 

Genuine  boys— Human  mushrooms— "What  are 
boys  fori"— Boys  the  hope  of  the  world— Man, 
the  masterpiece  —  How  a  noble  character  is 
formed— How  a  noble  character  is  ruined — A 
wonderful  machine— What  the  microscope  re- 
veals—The nutritive  apparatus— The  moving 
apparatus— The  thinking  and  feeling  appara- 
tus—The purifying  apparatus— The  reproduc- 


CONTENTS  Xlll 


tive  apparatus— The  downhill  road— Self -abuse 
—  A  dreadful  siu  —  Self-murderers  —  What 
makes  boys  dwarfs  —  Scrawny,  hollow-eyed 
boys— Old  boys— What  makes  idiots— Young 
dyspeptics— A  cause  of  consumption— The  race 
ruined  by  boys— Cases  illustrating  the  effects 
of  self -abuse— Two  young  wrecks— A  prodigal 
youth— Barely  escaped— A  lost  soul— The  re- 
sults of  one  transgression— A  hospital  case— An 
old  offender— The  sad  end  of  a  young  victim 
—From  bad  to  worse— An  indignant  father— 
Disgusted  with  life— Bad  company— Bad  lan- 
guage —  Bad  books  —  Vile  pictures  —  Evil 
thoughts— Influence  of  other  bad  habits— Liq- 
uor and  tobacco— Bad  diet— Closing  advice  to 
boys  and  young  men 365-413 


A   CHAPTER    FOR   YOUNG    MEN 

Pure  manners  —  Irreligion  —  Wrong  ideas  about 
women— Sowing  wild  oats— Getting  married — 
Self-preparation— Caution— Avoid  a  devotee 
of  fashion— The  young  husband 414-421 


A   CHAPTER    FOR   OLD   MEN 

The  period  of  decline— Moderation  required — 
Economizing  of  vitality— A  dangerous  waste— 
Extreme  disparity  of  ages— Exhaustive  effects 
of  the  sexual  act— Found  dead— Repugnant  to 
nature— A  somber  perspective— Children  of  old 
men— Senile  lovelaces— Cicero  on  old  age — 
Love  in  old  age— Brutish  lasciviousness — Na- 
ture's punishment— The  career  of  a  debauchee 
— Human  satyrs— A  case  in  point 422-434 


XIV  CONTENTS 


A   CHAPTER    FOR    GIRLS 

Girlhood— How  to  develop  beauty  and  loveliness— 
The  human  form  divine— A  wonderful  process 
— Human  buds— How  beauty  is  marred— A 
beauty-destroying  vice— Terrible  effects  of  se- 
cret vice— The  cause  of  breakdowns— "The  lit- 
tle health  of  women"— Remote  effects— Causes 
which  lead  girls  astray— Vicious  companions 
—Whom  to  avoid— Sentimental  books— Novel- 
reading— Various  causes— Modesty  woman's 
safeguard— A  few  sad  cases— A  pitiful  case— 
A  mind  dethroned— A  penitent  victim— A  ru- 
ined girl— Danger  in  boarding-schools— A  des- 
perate case— A  last  word 435-461 

A   FEW  WORDS   TO   BOYS   AND    GIRLS 

The  men  and  women  of  the  next  generation— Asso- 
ciation of  the  sexes  proper— Responsibility  of 
parents  and  teachers— "Small  talk"— The  true 
boy  a  gentleman  everywhere— The  true  girl  a 
lady  at  home— "Have  the  heart  right,  and  then 
act  natural" 462-465 


A    CHAPTER    FOR   YOUNG    WOMEN 

Puberty— Symptoms  of  puberty— Hygiene  of  pu- 
berty—A critical  period— Important  hints- 
Evils  of  excitement— Improper  occupations— 
Custom  of  Indian  women  — Criminal  careless- 
ness—Recklessness—Regularity of  habits— Ad- 
vice of  Boerhaave— Tight-lacing— Other  perils 
—  Bad  social  customs  —  "  Fast  girls  "  —  Im- 
proper liberties  —  Getting  a  husband  —  Old 
maids— An  "incumbrance"— Personal  worth- 
Maidenly  reserve 466-482 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER    FOR    WIVES    AND    MOTHERS 

How  to  treat  a  husband— Wives'  rights— The 
young  mother  —  Pregnancy  —  Signs  of  preg- 
nancy —  Quickening  —  Leucorrhea— The  curse 
removed  —  Important  suggestions  —  A  Hayti 
mother— Ante-natal  influences— Law  universal 
—A  source  of  crime— A  bad  family— The 
"Juke"  family— A  physiological  fact— Some- 
thing for  parents  to  consider— How  to  beget 
sound  children 483-497 


WOMEN    IN   ADVANCED    LIFE 

Change  of  life— When  the  change  occurs— Phys- 
ical changes — Nervousness — Flushings — Per- 
spirations—Night  sweats — Morbid  growths — 
Tumors  of  the  womb— Cancer— Lacerations— 
Urethral  inflammations— Hygiene  of  the  meno- 
pause—Cause of  suffering  at  the  menopause— 
How  to  prevent  suffering— Vaginal  douche,  498-501 


A    CHAPTER    FOR   MARRIED   PEOPLE 

Object  of  the  reproductive  functions— The  sexual 
function  in  lower  animals— Periodical  repro- 
duction—A lesson  from  instinct— Summary  of 
important  facts— A  hint  from  nature— Some 
valuable  opinions— Results  of  excesses— Effects 
upon  husbands— Consequences  of  excess— Con- 
tinence of  athletes— Cause  of  throat  disease— 
A  cause  of  consumption— Prostatic  troubles- 
Effect  on  wives— An  illustrative  case— Some- 
thing for  husbands  to  consider— The  greatest 
cause  of  uterine  disease — Legalized  murder — 
Accidental  pregnancies  —  Indulgence  during 
menstruation— Effects  upon  offspring— Indul- 


XVI  CONTENTS 


gence  during  pregnancy— Effect  upon  the  char- 
acter—Other limitations— A  selfish  objection- 
Brutes  and  savages  more  considerate— What 
may  be  done  I— Early  Moderation— Prevention 
of  conception— Conjugal  Onanism— "Male  con- 
tinence"—Shaker  views— Moral  bearings  of  the 
question— Unconsidered  murders— The  charge 
disputed— Difficulties— Woman 's  rights— What 
to  do 502-549 

INFANTICIDE    AND    ABORTION 

Not  a  m^odern  crime— Causes  of  the  crime— The 
nature  of  the  crime— Instruments  of  crime- 
Results  of  this  unnatural  crime — An  unwelcome 
child— The  remedy— Murder  by  proxy 550-563 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN 

Causes  of  disease  among  women— Carelessness  at 
menstruation  —  Sexual  sins  —  Neglect  of  the 
bowels— Drugging  and  doctoring— Errors  in 
dress  —  A  muddled  professor  —  Diseases  of 
women — General  suggestions— Leucorrhea,  or 
whites  —Vaginitis  —Vaginismus  —  Uterine  ca- 
tarrh—Inflammation of  the  womb— Erosion  of 
the  womb— Amenorrhea,  or  suppressed  men- 
struation—Scanty menstruation— Menorrhagia 
—Hemorrhage  from  the  womb— Dysmenor- 
rhea—Ovarian  irritation— Inflammation  of  the 
ovaries— Cellulitis— Prolapsus,  or  falling  of  the 
womb— Pessaries,  or  supporters— Other  forms 
of  displacement— Prolapsus  of  the  ovaries— 
Eectocele— Cj^stocele,  or  prolapsus  of  the  blad- 
der —  Sterility  —  Nymphomania  —  Hysterical 
breast— Painful  sitting— Dyspareunia,  or  pain- 
ful connection— Urethral  tumors— Bladder  dis- 


CONTENTS  XVll 


orders— Constipation— Chlorosis,  or  green  sick- 
ness— Lacerations  at  childbirth — Vesico-  and 
retro-vaginal  fistula — Tumors  of  the  womb — 
Cancer  of  the  womb — Deficient  development  of 
the  womb  and  ovaries — Ovarian  tumor — Stric- 
ture of  the  neck  of  the  womb— Floating  tumor 
— Relaxed  abdomen — Imperforate  hymen— Tu- 
mor of  the  breast— Cancer  of  the  breast— Hys- 
teria    564-624 


DISEASES    PECULIAR   TO   MEN 

Spermatorrhea  —  False  spermatorrhea  —  Seminal 
weakness,  or  nocturnal  losses— Diurnal  losses 
—  Diseased  prostate  —  Stricture  —  Balanitis  — 
Phimosis— Paraphimosis— Hydrocele  —  Varico- 
cele — Impotence — Sterility — Gonorrhea — Chan- 
croid—Syphilis   625-659 


GENERAL  HEALTH  HINTS 

Hygiene  of  the  muscles— How  to  take  exercise- 
Deficient  exercise  by  students— Overtraining— 
Unrestrained  action— Harmful  sports— Prize 
fighting— Football— The  home  gymnasium  il- 
lustrated—Appliances—Exercises for  chest  and 
trunk— Swedish  gymnastics— Delsarte  and  cord 
drill— Wand  drill— Arm  and  trunk  exercises- 
Bicycling— Housework— The  tobacco  bondage 
—A  healthy  smell— Clothing  of  children— Pop- 
ular medical  education— Hygiene  of  old  age— 
Mouth  -  breathing  —  Coffee  and  dyspepsia  — 
About  water  filters— Barricading  against  fresh 
air— Purifying  the  blood— Smoking  a  cause  of 
consumption   and   Bright 's   disease — Tea   and 

2 


xviii  COITTEN'TS 


indigestion— Food  combinations— Cutting  off 
supplies— The  man  eater— The  grain  eater— 
The  swine  eater— Fruit  eaters— Japanese  wres- 
tlers—A strong  diet--The  enema 660-712 


CONDENSED  COMMENTS 

Health  and  morality— Nature  cures— Remedy  for 
burns— Being  well  and  feeling  well— How  to 
avoid  infection— Removing  substances  from  the 
ear— Test  for  impure  water— The  Hindoo  fa- 
natic—Other fanatics— The  "Sunny  South"— 
Mineral  water— Cure  for  sleeplessness— Cloth- 
ing and  weather — Foul  air  and  germs— Cold 
water  and  the  ears— Mental  labor  and  health- 
Bile  and  the  liver— Pain— Quacks— Damp  beds 
— Ear  wax— Rich  foods— Physical  culture — 
The  spare  room— the  human  omnibus— Eating 
between  meals— Positions  in  sleep— Regularity 
in  eating  —  Drinking  at  meals  —  Undergar- 
ments — Inherited  tendencies — Cellars — Perspi- 
ration and  colds— Air  and  light  bath— Eating 
"anything"— Healthy  skin— Slow  digestion- 
Suspicious  water— Running  water— Floors  and 
rugs— Pain  in  the  back— Garbage— Warm  feet 
Food  for  the  lungs— "Tired"  stomach— Eating 
when  tired— Correct  habits— Laws  of  nature — 
—Time  to  bathe— The  eyes— Digestion  and  nu- 
trition—Exercise at  night— Tea  and  "temper" 
—Sunshine   712-721 


SIMPLE  HOME  REMEDIES  FOR  COMMON 
MALADIES 

Spring  biliousness— Diet  for  diabetics— Nervoias 
dyspepsia— Constipation— How  to  break  up  a 
cold— Dilatation  of  the  stomach  and  dyspepsia— 


CONTENTS  XIX 


Comparative  table  of  time  required  for  stomach 
digestion  of  seventy  varieties  of  food — Rhemna- 
tism  —  Sunstroke  —  Colic  —  Cholera  morbus  - 
Cholera  infantum—  Croup — Influenza— Catar- 
rhal fever — La  grippe — Alcoholism— Heredi- 
tary effects  of  alcohol— Effects  upon  the  char- 
acter—The cure  of  intemperance — Limit  of 
periods  of  incubation  and  contagion  in  infec- 
tious maladies  (diphtheria,  measles,  rotheln, 
mumps,  smallpox,  chickenpox,  scarlet  fever, 
typhoid  fever)— Accidental  poisoning  and  nine 
general  methods  of  treatment— Alphabetical 
list  of  over  150  poisons  and  their  antidotes— 722-758 


OBSTETRICS,  OR  MIDWIFERY 

Qualifications  of  attendants— Labor,  or  childbirth 
—Presentation  and  position— Stages  of  labor— 
Management  of  labor — Washing  and  dressing 
the  child— The  binder— Getting  up  too  soon— 
To  check  secretion  of  milk — To  promote  secre- 
tion of  milk 759-771 


FEEDING  AND  CARE  OF  INFANTS 

One-third  die  before  the  age  of  five  years— Seven 
rules  for  infant  diet— Thirteen  cautions  rela- 
tive to  feeding— Four  points  on  weaning— Gen- 
eral care  of  infants— The  bowels  and  bladder — 
Clothing  —  Bathing —Sleep  —  Exercise  —  Teeth- 
ing  772-782 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX,  ETC- 

1,000  Topics 783-798 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 


-  The   School  of   Pythagoras  —  From   Painting  by  Joseph   Coomans 

(Belgian)    i 

The   Triumph   of  Love  —  Statue,   by   Patrick   Mac  Dowell 

(Irish) Frontispiece. 

Nine-Color  Anatomical  Chart  in  Three  Sections: Cover  pocket. 

1.  The  Body  Temple,  Showing  Relation  of  the  Internal  Organs. 

2.  Furniture  of  the   Body   Temple — 15    Principal   Organs,  in 

Colors. 

3.  The  Four  Great  Systems  — 10  Drawings  in  Colors. 

The    Mystery    of    Life  — "  Star    of    Bethlehem,"    by    B.    Piglhein 

(German)     27 

The  Child  and  the  World  —  English  Engraving  Retouched  by  Morse  28 
Character  Building  —  Painting  entitled  "Instruction,"  by  E.  Munier 

(French)     28 

Sex  in  Nature  —  6  Drawings 79 

Health    and    Beauty  — "  Beatrice "     Statue    by    E.     G.     Papworth 

(English) 80 

Floral  Purity  —  2  Paintings,  by  Semenowski  and  Niczky 87 

Animal   Embryos  —  6   Drawings 88 

Plant    Mating  —  4   Drawings 95 

Sex  in  Lower  Forms  of  Life  —  10  Drawings 96 

Buds  —  2    Paintings,    by    H.    Ballheim    and    C.    von    Bodenhausen 

(German)     I37 

Blossoms  —  2  Paintings  by  Robert  Beyschlag   (German) 138 

Nature  —  "Nutcrackers,"  by  Sir  Edwin  Landseer  (English) 159 

Human  Nature  —  From  Painting  by  A.  Seifert   (German) 159 

Till  Death  Do  Us  Part  —  "  Yes,"  by  Sir  J.  E.  Millais  (English)  ...   160 

Loyalty  —  "Helpmates,"  drawn  by  P.   Massani 160 

Meditation  —  Statue  entitled  "Truth,"  by  Unknown  Sculptor 213 

Purity  and  Faith  —  "Hope"  by  C.  von  Bodenhausen  (German)...  214 
Watt's    Discovery,    and    Beethoven    at    the    Organ  —  David    Neal 

(American),  H.  Merle  (German) 225 

Modesty  Is  Virtue's  Handmaid  (2  Engravings) 226 

Fashion  and  Folly  (2  Engravings) 226 

Sodom  and  Gomorrah  —  Gustave  Dore   (French) 239 

Pompeii  and  Herculaneum  —  Hector  Le  Roux   (French) 239 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS  XXI 


Refusing    to    Honor    the    Goddess    Diana  —  By    Sir    Edwin    Long 

(English)     240 

Mother's    Influence  — "  Return    from    First    Vo3'age."      Rosenthal 

(American)    245 

Guarding  the  Home  —  Engraved  from  Hermann  Koch  (German) . .  245 

The  Pursuit  of  Pleasure  —  By  Sir  Noel  Paton  (English) 246 

Help  for  the  Fallen  —  By  Heinrich  Hofmann  (German) 331 

Hercules  and  Lichas  —  Statue  hy  A.  Canova   (Italian) 332 

Water  Treatment  at  Home  —  From  "  Rational  Hydrotherapy  " . . .  .  347 
The   Bath  —  2   Paintings,   by   Theo.    Graetz    (German),   Paul    Peel 

( Canadian ) 348 

Cornelia  and  Her  Jewels  —  By  H.  F.  Schopin  (French) 367 

Home  of  Bach  the  Musician  —  By  T.  E.  Rosenthal  (American) .. .  367 
Filial  Love  —  "Christ  and  His  Mother."     B.  Plockhorst  (German)  368 

Queen  Louise  and  Her  Sons  —  By  C.  Steffeck  (German) 411 

Joseph  —  By  Gustave  Dore    (French) 412 

Herod  —  By  G.  Fattori  (Italian) 412 

Gladstone  —  By   Nicolai    (Italian) 423 

Every-day  Errors  that  Shorten  Life  —  17  Drawings 424 

Girlhood  —  5  Paintings  by  Celeb/ated  Artists 439 

Physical  Faults  that  Destroy  Beauty  —  15  Drawings 440 

Modest  Maidens  —  5  Paintings  by  Celebrated  Artists 467 

Queen  Vashti  —  by  Gustave  Dore   (French) 468 

Babylonian  Marriage  Market  —  By  Sir  Edwin  Long  (English)....  481 
Weary  —  Statue,  Hood's  "  Song  of  the  Shirt."    M.  Wood  (English)  482 

Essentials  of  Healthful  Dress  —  10  Drawings 489 

Careful     Breeding  —  "A     Jersey     Family,"     by     Edwin     Douglass 

(Scotch)    490 

Neglected  Progeny — "A  Gipsy  Team,"  by  Ludwig  Knaus  (German)  490 
Knights    of  the    Forest  —  Cattle    and    Deer,    by    Edwin    Landseer 

(English) 507 

Maternity  —  2  Paintings,  by  S.  J.  Carter   (English),  Oscar  Begas 

(German)     508 

True  to  Nature  —  "St.  Bernard  Dogs,"  by  C.  F.  Deiker  (German)  545 
False  to  Nature  —  "  Cleopatra  Testing  the  Poison,"  Alex.  Cabanel 

(French)     545 

Cherished    Offspring — "The   Lion   at    Home,"    by   Rosa    Bonheur 

(French) 546 

A  Foundling  —  Painting  by  L.  Deschamps  (French) 546 

^Massage  —  9  Drawings  from  "Art  of  Massage  " 575 

Deformities  of  Fashion 576 

Science  Trims  the  Lamp  of  Life  —  Statue  by  Wm.'Wyon  (English)   623 
Harvey   Demonstrating   the   Circulation   of    Blood   to    Charles    I  — 

R.   Hanner 624 


XXll  LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 


Harmful    Sports  —  Prize    Fight    and    Football.      W.    H.    Overend 

(English ) 667 

The  Home  Gymnasium  —  120  Drawings  : 

1.  Appliances  and  Family  Group 668 

2.  Exercises    for    the    Chest    and    Trunk  —  9    Figures    from 

"  Ladies'   Guide  " 669 

3.  Swedish  Gymnastics  —  24  Illustrations  from  Dr.   Hartelius' 

book 670 

4.  Delsarte  and  Cord  Drill  —  25  Drawings 671 

5.  Wand    Drill  —  30    Figures    from    "Gill's    Calisthenic    Exer- 

cises " 672 

6.  Arm  and  Trunk  Exercises  —  24  Drawings 673 

Healthful      Recreation  — "  Bicycling      in      Norway."        Hans-Dahl 

(Norwegian) 674 

Priscilla  at  the  Spinning  Wheel  —  By  G.  R.  Barse  (English) 674 

Nature's  Beverage  —  By  J.  F.  Herring  (American) 677 

Drinks  that  Poison  and  Enslave  —  By  Goldman  (Scotch) 677 

Forbidden  Fruit  —  By  Carl  Schloesser  (German) 678 

Ventilation  —  From  "  Monitor  of  Health  " 693 

Water  Contamination  —  From  Kellogg's  "Home  Hand-Book"....  693 

Helpful  Appliances  for  the  Home  —  24  Reduced  Engravings 694 

The  Man  Eater,  The  Grain  Eater,  Fruit  Eaters,  etc. —  4  Paintings, 

by  Rosa  Bonheur  (French),  E.  Munier  (German) 707,  708 

Sowing  the  Tares  —  From  Painting  by  A.  Schroeder  (German)  ....  749 
The      Drunkard's      Harvest  —  Engraving      from      N.      Bordignon 

(German) 749 

Effects  of  Alcohol  and  Tobacco  —  8  Illustrations  from  Dr.  Kellogg's 

Colored  Charts  on  Anatomy,  Physiolog}',  and  Hygiene 750 


INTRODUCTION 


BOOKS  almost  without  number  have  been  written 
upon  the  subject  treated  in  this  work.  Unfortu- 
nately, most  of  these  works  are  utterly  unre- 
liable, being  filled  with  gross  misrepresentations  and 
exaggerations,  and  being  designed  as  advertising 
mediums  for  ignorant  and  unscrupulous  charlatans, 
or  worse  than  worthless  i3atent  nostrums.  To  add  to 
their  power  for  evil,  many  of  them  abound  with  pic- 
torial illustrations  which  are  in  no  way  conducive  to 
virtue  or  morality,  but  rather  stimulate  the  animal 
propensities,  and  excite  lewd  imaginations.  Books  of 
this  character  are  usually  widely  circulated;  and  their 
pernicious  influence  is  fully  as  great  as  that  of  works 
of  a  more  grossly  obscene  character.  In  most  of  the 
few  instances  in  which  the  evident  motive  of  the  author 
or  publisher  is  not  of  an  unworthy  character,  the  man- 
ner of  presenting  the  subject  is  unfortunately  such  that 
it  more  frequently  than  otherwise  has  a  strong  tend- 
ency in  a  direction  exactly  the  opposite  of  that  in- 
tended and  desired.  The  writer  of  this  work  has 
endeavored  to  avoid  the  latter  evil  by  adopting  a  style 
of  presentation  quite  different  from  that  generally 
pursued.  Instead  of  restricting  the  reader's  attention 
rigidly  to  the  sexual  function  in  man,  his  mind  is 
diverted  by  frequent  references  to  corresponding  func- 
tions in  lower  animals  and  in  the  vegetable  kingdom. 
By  this  means,  not  only  is  additional  information  im- 
parted, but  the  sexual  function  in  man  is  divested  of  its 

23 


24  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

sensuality.  It  is  viewed  as  a  fact  of  natural  history, 
and  is  associated  with  the  innocence  of  animal  life  and 
the  chaste  loveliness  of  flowers.  Thus  the  subject 
comes  to  be  regarded  from  a  purely  physiological 
standpoint,  and  is  liberated  from  that  association  with 
grossness  which  is  the  active  cause  of  sensuality. 

There  are  so  many  well-meaning  individuals  who 
object  to  the  agitation  of  this  subject  in  any  manner 
whatever,  that  it  may  be  profitable  to  consider  in  this 
connection  some  of  the  principal  objections  which  are 
urged  against  imparting  information  on  sexual  sub- 
jects, especially  against  giving  knowledge  to  the  young. 

Sexual  matters  improper  to  he  spoken  of  to  the 
young. 

This  objection  is  often  raised,  it  being  urged  that 
these  matters  are  too  delicate  to  be  even  suggested  to 
children ;  that  they  ought  to  be  kept  in  total  ignorance 
of  all  sexual  matters  and  relations.  It  is  doubtless  true 
that  children  raised  in  a  perfectly  natural  way  would 
have  no  sexual  thoughts  during  the  earlier  years  of  life, 
and  it  w^ould  be  better  if  it  might  be  so ;  but  from  facts 
pointed  out  in  succeeding  portions  of  this  work,  it  is 
certain  that  at  the  present  time,  children  nearly  always 
do  have  some  ideas  of  sexual  relations  long  before 
puberty,  and  often  at  a  very  early  age.  It  is  thus  ap- 
parent that  in  speaking  to  children  of  sexual  matters, 
in  a  proper  manner,  a  new  subject  is  not  introduced  to 
them,  but  it  is  merely  presenting  to  them  in  a  true  light 
a  subject  of  which  they  already  have  vague  ideas ;  and 
thus,  by  satisfying  a  natural  curiosity,  they  are  saved 
from  suppljdng,  by  their  imaginations,  distorted  images 
and  exaggerated  conceptions,  and  from  seeking  to  ob- 


INTRODUCTION  25 


tain  the  desired  information  from  evil  sources  whence 
they  would  derive  untold  injury. 

What  reason  is  there  that  the  subject  of  the  sexual 
functions  should  be  treated  with  such  maudlin  secrecy? 
Why  should  the  function  of  generation  be  regarded  as 
something  low  and  beastly,  unfit  to  be  spoken  of  by 
decent  people  on  decent  occasions?  We  can  conceive  of 
no  answer  except  the  worse  than  beastly  use  to  which 
the  function  has  been  so  generally  put  by  man.  There 
is  nothing  about  the  sexual  organism  which  makes  it 
less  pure  than  the  lungs  or  the  stomach.  ^'Unto  the 
pure  all  things  are  pure,"  may  have  been  written  es- 
pecially for  our  times,  when  there  is  such  a  vast  amount 
of  mock  modesty,  when  so  much  pretense  of  virtue 
covers  such  a  world  of  iniquity  and  vice.  The  young 
lady  who  goes  into  a  spasm  of  virtuous  hysterics  upon 
hearing  the  world  '^eg,"  is  perhaps  just  the  one  who 
at  home  riots  her  imagination  in  voluptuous  French 
novels,  if  she  commits  no  grosser  breach  of  chastity. 
The  parents  who  are  the  most  opposed  to  judiciously 
imparting  proper  information  to  the  young,  are  often 
those  who  have  themselves  been  guilty  of  gross 
breaches  of  the  laws  of  sexual  hygiene.  In  the  minds 
of  such  persons,  the  sexual  organs  and  functions,  and 
everything  even  remotely  connected  with  them,  are 
associated  only  with  ideas  of  lust  and  gross  sensuality. 
No  wonder  that  they  wish  to  keep  such  topics  in  the 
dark.  With  such  thoughts,  they  cannot  well  bear  the 
scrutiny  of  virtue. 

Sexual  subjects  are  not,  of  course,  proper  subjects 
for  conversation  at  all  times,  or  at  any  time  in  a  spirit 
of  levity  and  flippancy.  This  subject  should  always  be 
handled  with  the  greatest  delicacy  of  expression.  Gross 
and  vulgar  forms  of  speech  in  relation  to  sexual  sub- 


26  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

jects  should  never  be  employed  in  presenting  the  sub- 
ject to  the  young,  and  the  greatest  care  should  be  taken 
to  avoid  rousing  morbid  curiosity  or  stimulating  the 
passions.  The  object  of  imparting  information  is  to 
allay  curiosity  by  gratifying  it  in  a  wholesome  way, 
and  thus  to  prevent  that  precocious  and  morbid  ex- 
citement of  the  sexual  nature  which  is  the  natural  out- 
growth of  ignorance,  and  is  stimulated  by  those  obscure 
hints  and  allusions  which  come  to  the  notice  of  children 
even  at  a  very  early  age. 

Knoivledge  is  dangerous. 

Very  true,  knowledge  is  dangerous,  but  ignorance  is 
still  more  dangerous;  or,  rather,  partial  knowledge  is 
more  dangerous  than  a  more  complete  understanding 
of  facts.  Children,  young  people,  will  not  grow  up  in 
innocent  ignorance.  If,  in  obedience  to  custom,  they  are 
not  encouraged  to  inquire  of  their  parents  about  the 
mysteries  of  life,  they  will  seek  to  satisfy  their  curiosity 
by  appealing  to  older  or  better  informed  companions. 
They  will  eagerly  read  any  book  which  promises  any 
hint  on  the  mysterious  subject,  and  will  embrace  every 
opportunity,  proper  or  improper  —  and  most  likely  to 
be  the  latter  —  of  obtaining  the  coveted  information. 
Knowledge  obtained  in  this  uncertain  and  irregular 
way  must  of  necessity  be  very  unreliable.  Many  times 
—generally,  in  fact  —  it  is  of  a  most  corruptive  char- 
acter, and  the  clandestine  manner  in  which  it  is  ob- 
tained is  itself  corrupting  and  demoralizing.  A  child 
ought  to  be  taught  to  expect  all  such  information  from 
its  parents,  and  it  ought  not  to  be  disappointed. 

Again,  while  it  is  true  that  knowledge  is  dangerous, 
it  is  equally  true  that  this  dangerous  knowledge  will  be 


THE  MYSTERY  OF   LIFE 


27 


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INTRODUCTION  29 


gained  sometime,  at  any  rate;  and  as  it  must  come, 
better  let  it  be  imparted  by  the  parent,  who  can  admin- 
ister proper  warnings  and  cautions  along  with  it,  than 
by  any  other  individual.  Thus  may  the  child  be 
shielded  from  injury  to  which  he  would  otherwise  be 
certainly  exposed. 

Young  people  should  be  left  to  find  out  these  things 
for  themselves. 

If  human  beings  received  much  of  their  knowledge 
through  instinct,  as  animals  do,  this  might  be  a  proper 
course ;  but  man  gets  his  knowledge  largely  by  instruc- 
tion. Young  people  will  get  their  first  knowledge  of 
sexual  matters  mostly  by  instruction  from  some  source. 
How  much  better,  then,  as  we  have  already  shown, 
to  let  them  obtain  this  knowledge  from  the  most 
natural  and  most  reliable  source! 

The  following  paragraph  from  Dr.  Ware  is  to  the 
point : 

''But  putting  aside  the  question  whether  we  ought 
to  hide  this  subject  wholly  from  the  young  if  we 
could,  the  truth,  it  is  to  be  feared,  is  that  we  cannot 
if  we  would.  Admitting  it  to  be  desirable,  every  man 
of  experience  in  life  will  pronounce  it  to  be  imprac- 
ticable. If,  then,  we  cannot  prevent  the  minds  of 
children  from  being  engaged  in  some  way  on  this  sub- 
ject, may  it  not  be  better  to  forestall  evil  impressions 
by  implanting  good  ones,  or  at  least  to  mingle  good 
ones  with  the  evil  as  the  nature  of  the  case  admits? 
Let  us  be  at  least  as  wise  as  the  crafty  enemy  of  man, 
and  cast  in  a  little  wheat  with  his  tares;  and  among 
the  most  effectual  methods  of  doing  this  is  to  impart 
to  the  young  just  and  religious  views  of  the  nature  and 


30  PLAIN  FACTS  FOE  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

purpose  of  the  relation  which  the  Creator  has  estab- 
lished between  the  two  sexes." 

When  shall  Information  be  Given?—  It  is  im- 
possible to  designate  a  certain  age  at  which  all  chil- 
dren should  receive  information  on  sexual  subjects. 
Children  differ.  A  safe  rule  is  that  a  certain  amount 
of  knowledge  should  be  imparted  as  soon  as  curiosity 
is  manifested  in  this  direction.  If  there  is  reason  to 
believe  that  the  mind  of  the  child  is  exercised  on  this 
subject,  even  though  he  may  have  made  no  particular 
inquiries,  information  should  not  be  withheld. 

How  to  Impart  Proper  Knowledge.-  No  little  skill 
may  be  displayed  in  introducing  these  subjects  to  the 
mind  of  the  young  person  in  such  a  way  as  to  avoid 
rousing  the  passions  and  creating  sexual  excitement. 
Perhaps  the  general  plan  followed  in  this  work  (p.  74) 
will  be  found  a  very  pleasant  and  successful  method,  if 
studied  thoroughly,  and  well  executed. 

All  information  should  not  be  given  at  once.  First 
obtain  the  child 's  confidence,  and  assure  him  by  candor 
and  unreserve  that  you  will  give  him  all  needed  infor- 
mation; then,  as  he  encounters  difficulties,  he  will 
resort  for  explanation  where  he  knows  he  will  receive 
satisfaction.  Wlien  the  little  one  questions,  answer 
truthfully  and  carefully. 

The  following  paragraph  from  the  pen  of  an  able 
physician  is  wisely  suggestive: 

"When  we  are  little  boys  and  girls,  our  first  in- 
quiries about  our  ivhence  are  answered  by  the  authori- 
tative dogma  of  the  'silver  spade;'  we  were  dug  up 
with  that  implement.  By  degrees  the  fact  comes  forth. 
The  public,  however,  remains  for  ages  in  the  silver- 
spade  condition  of  mind  with  regard  to  the  science  of 


INTRODUCTION  31 


the  fact ;  and  the  doctors  foster  it  by  telling  ns  that  the 
whole  subject  is  a  medical  property.  .  .  .  There  is 
nothing  wrong  in  the  knowing;  and  though  the  pas- 
sions might  be  stimulated  in  the  first  moments  by  such 
information,  yet  in  the  second  instance  they  will  be 
calmed  by  it;  and  ceasing  to  be  inflamed  by  the  addi- 
tional goad  of  curiosity  and  imagination,  they  will  cool 
down  under  the  hydropathic  influence  of  science.  Well- 
stated  knowledge  never  did  contribute  to  human  inflam- 
mation; and  we  much  question  whether  the  whole  the- 
ory of  the  silver  spade  be  not  a  mistake;  and  whether 
children  should  not  be  told  the  truth  from  the  first ;  that 
before  desire  and  imagination  are  born,  the  young 
mind  may  receive  in  its  cool  innocency,  a  knowledge 
of  the  future  objects  of  power  and  faculties  which  are 
to  be  subject  afterward  to  such  strong  excitement. ' ' 

Eminent  Testimony.— The  dangers  of  ignorance 
upon  sexual  topics  are  very  ably  set  forth  in  the  follow- 
ing article,  which  recently  appeared  in  the  British 
Medical  Journal,  the  leading  medical  periodical  of  the 
age,  having  been  called  out  by  the  exposures  of  the 
Poll  Mall  Gazette,  elsewhere  referred  to  in  this  vol- 
ume: 

''Recent  painful  disclosures  have,  among  other  re- 
sults, raised  an  important  question,  which,  in  the  pres- 
ent state  of  opinion,  can  be  most  readily  discussed  in 
the  pages  of  a  medical  journal.  We  refer  to  the  com- 
plete ignorance  regarding  the  sexual  organs  and  the 
sexual  functions  which  is  permitted,  and,  indeed,  sedu- 
lously fostered,  by  the  ordinary  education  received  by 
boys  and  girls  in  this  country.  Not  only  does  our 
school  system  provide  no  information  on  these  topics 
which  so  vitally  concern  the  happiness  of  every  individ- 
ual, but  the  slightest  allusion  to  the  subject  is  apt  to 


32  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

be  rigorously  prohibited,  and  perhaps  branded  as  ob- 
scenity. The  result  is,  that  there  is  a  great  deal  of 
ignorance  on  these  questions,  and  a  still  greater  amount 
of  half  knowledge,  which  is  more  dangerous  than  either 
total  ignorance  or  the  fullest  information.  We  have  the 
authority  of  Sir  James  Paget  for  the  statement  that 
some  men  grow  up,  and  even  marry,  in  complete  sexual 
ignorance ;  and  that,  while  this  is  rare  in  the  male  sex, 
it  is  extremely  common  amon^  cultivated  and  refined 
women. 

"The  decent  veil  which  we  conspire  to  throw  over 
everything  concerned  with  the  reproductive  function, 
serves,  beyond  doubt,  some  useful  ends,  and  we  trust 
the  English  people  will  always  be  characterized  by  their 
delicacy  of  thought  and  expression  in  this  matter.  But 
we  are  convinced  that  this  secrecy,  this  conspiracy  of 
silence,  has  gone  too  far,  and  that  it  is  productive  of 
serious  evils.  We  object,  in  the  first  place,  to  it  as  un- 
natural. That  our  educational  methods  and  social  prac- 
tice should  permit  men,  or  more  frequently  women,  to 
marry  without  knowing  what  marriage  involves,  is  not 
merely  unnatural,  but  may  be  the  cause  of  much  matri- 
monial unhappiness.  Parents  and  schoolmasters  act 
as  if  innocence  in  such  matters  could  last  for  life,  and 
as  if  knowledge  were  a  crime. 

''But  a  much  more  serious,  because  infinitely  more 
common,  evil  is  the  objectionable  mode  in  which  sexual 
knowledge  generally  gets  access  to  the  mind.  Instead 
of  being  conveyed  in  some  plain  and  matter-of-fact 
manner,  it  is  too  often  gained  through  the  corrupting 
medium  of  lewd  jest  or  obscene  print.  At  the  most 
emotional  and  plastic  period  of  life,  when  new  instincts 
are  swelling  up  and  causing  great  mental  disquietude, 
we  withhold  from  boys  and  girls  the  knowledge  which 


INTRODUCTION  33 


nature  is  instinctively  trying  to  impart,  and  we  leave 
tliem  to  grope  their  way  in  darkness  or  to  seek  illumi- 
nation from  some  unhallowed  source. 

"Wliy  do  the  j^oung  so  often  regard  an  obscene 
work  or  print  with  such  fearful  but  such  irresistible 
curiosity?  Not  from  mere  depravity,  as  we  often  as- 
sume, but  because  they  are  thus  unconsciously  seeking 
information  which  they  have  a  right  to  possess,  and 
which  we  are  conscientiously  bound  to  supply  in  some 
form  which  will  enlighten  the  reason,  without  inflam- 
ing the  imagination  and  exciting  the  passions.  Sexual 
knowledge  is  not  wrong ;  its  tendency  is  not  necessarily 
injurious;  but  our  mistaken  methods  of  secrecy  have 
undoubtedly  the  most  unfortunate  effect  of  stimulating 
the  imagination  to  the  highest  point.  We  know  the 
baleful  fascination  of  forbidden  fruit,  not  because  it  is 
sweet  or  pleasant,  but  simply  because  it  is  forbidden. 
This  is  a  notable  trait  in  human  nature;  but  in  our 
attitude  toward  sexual  questions,  we  have  disregarded 
it,  or  rather  acted  in  direct  contravention  of  it.  The 
sexual  function  is  naturally  powerful;  but  we  enor- 
mously increase  its  attraction  for  the  young  by  label- 
ing it  as  forbidden  fruit. 

"It  is  usually  easier  to  indicate  a  disease  than  to 
apply  a  suitable  remedy,  but  we  shall  not  conclude  with- 
out venturing  a  few  suggestions.  First,  let  us  glance  at 
what  is  suggested  in  the  very  few  books  which  touch 
upon  the  question.  Many  urge  that  parents  should  con- 
vey knowledge  upon  these  questions  to  their  children  at 
the  time  of  life  when  external  signs  and  new  sensations 
indicate  that  the  sexual  instinct  is  beginning  to  awake. 
But  many,  probably  the  majority  of  parents,  are  not 
well  fitted  to  undertake  such  a  duty.  Our  language  is 
badly  j^rovided  with  the  necessary  terms,  and  the  un- 


34  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

trained  parent,  ignorant  of  the  anatomical  expression, 
would  find  it  hard  to  convey  the  necessary  information 
without  incurring  the  suspicion  and,  in  his  own  mind, 
the  reproach  of  indelicacy. 

"Some  advise  that  the  family  medical  attendant 
should  act  in  loco  parentis  in  this  matter;  but  we  are 
certain  that  such  action  would  be  highly  disagreeable  to 
the  members  of  the  profession.  One  suggestion  alone 
seems  to  meet  the  case,  but,  fortunately,  it  meets  it 
most  thoroughly.  Elementary  anatomy  and  physiology 
should  form  an  integral  part  of  every  education.  We 
might  begin  by  teaching  boys  and  girls  the  bones  and 
skeleton,  the  functions  of  the  heart,  stomach,  etc.,  as  in 
the  following  chapter,  and  then,  when  the  suitable  age 
arrives,  the  structure  and  functions  of  the  sexual  or- 
gans might  be  taken  as  the  natural  sequel  of  the  pre- 
vious portions  of  the  course.  In  this  way,  the  necessary 
knowledge  would  enter  the  mind  naturally  and  simply, 
with  no  false  shame  on  the  one  hand,  and  no  fillip  to 
the  imagination  on  the  other.  We  are  confident  that 
an  immense  reform  would  thus  be  easily  and  quietly 
effected,  and  that  much  evil  and  suffering  would  be 
averted.  We  should  thus  convey,  in  the  most  natural 
and  unobjectionable  form,  knowledge  which  we  have 
no  right  to  withhold ;  and  we  should  remove  the  unwhole- 
some fascination  which  our  present  habit  of  secrecy  im- 
parts to  sexual  questions.  ^Jertain  it  is  that  the  stealthy 
approaches  of  vice  are  favored  by  the  existing  system. 

*'It  will  often  be  found  that  there  is  a  prevalent 
opinion  that  sexual  immorality  is  to  celibates  a  physical 
necessitj^,  an  attribute  of  manliness,  and  even  a  collat- 
eral or  prevalent  condition  of  health.  This  degrading 
error  has  been  so  vigorously  denounced  by  the  ablest 
of  modern  physiologists,  that  no  one  has  any  longer  a 


INTRODUCTION  35 


pretext  for  entertaining  or  promulgating  it.  It  has 
been  the  source  of  much  evil,  however;  and  wherever 
such  an  opinion  is  met,  it  must  be  energetically  de- 
nounced. 

"There  is  an  aspect  of  the  question  which  cannot 
be  overlooked,  especially  as  recent  revelations  have 
thrown  a  lurid  light  upon  it.  It  has  been  abundantly 
proved  that  young  girls  are  often  entrapped  to  their 
ruin  in  the  most  utter  ignorance  of  sexual  questions, 
and  of  the  physical  significance  of  the  act  to  which 
they  are  enticed.  This  is  surely  a  lamentable  instance 
of  proj)riety  overreaching  itself.  Innocent  ignorance 
is  always  attractive ;  but  if  the  means  of  luring  the  in- 
nocent victim  to  her  doom,  it  is  surely  more  dangerous. 
How,  then,  is  the  girl,  approaching  sexual  maturity, 
10  be  made  acquainted  with  the  solemn  facts  of  the 
creative  act,  and  guarded  against  associating  them 
with  the  base  impulses  of  passion?  We  commend  this 
difficult  question  to  the  thoughtful  consideration  of  our 
readers.  In  this  respect,  also,  the  mothers  and  the 
teachers  have  a  very  solemn  duty;  and  it  is  opportune 
to  ask  how,  when,  where,  and  by  whom  it  is  best  per- 
formed. ' ' 

The  experience  of  hundreds  in  the  circulation  of  the 
present  work  has  proved  beyond  all  chance  for  question 
the  truth  of  the  foregoing  remarks,  and  often  in  a  most 
striking  manner.  Scores  of  persons  have  written  us, 
''I  would  give  all  I  possess  in  this  world  could  I  have 
had  a  copy  of  ^ Plain  Facts'  placed  in  my  hands  when 
I  was  a  lad,"  or,  ''Words  cannot  express  the  gratitude 
I  would  now  feel  had  some  kind  friend  imparted  to 
me  the  valuable  information  which  this  book  contains; 
it  would  have  saved  me  a  life  of  wretchedness." 

3 


36  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE   OLD   AND   TOUNG 

We  have  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing,  in  numer- 
ous instances,  that  the  virtue  and  happiness  of  whole 
families  have  been  secured  by  the  timely  warnings  of 
danger  which  parents  have  obtained  from  this  work- 
We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  feel  that  it  is  now  thoroughly 
demonstrated  that  intelligent  persons  who  have  given 
this  subject  thought,  universally  approve  of  the  objects 
of  the  work,  and  the  manner  of  presenting  the  subject 
adopted  in  it.  Those  who  at  first  question  the  propriety 
of  discussing  the  subject  so  freely  and  thoroughly  as  is 
here  done,  lose  their  prejudice  entirely  upon  giving  the 
work  a  careful  perusal.  In  numerous  instances  it  has 
occurred  that  those  who  were  most  decided  in  their 
denunciations,  have  become  the  most  zealous  and  effi- 
•jient  agents  in  its  circulation,  after  becoming  more 
rully  acquainted  with  it. 


THE  BODY  TEMPLE' 


KINGS  and  millionaires  have  built  costly  and  gor- 
geous palaces,  and  adorned  them  with  rare  and 
marvelous  works  of  art ;  but  not  one  of  them  has 
ever  approached  in  beauty  and  grace  of  form,  in  sym- 
metry and  delicacy  of  structure,  in  the  transcendent 
skill  of  its  workmanship,  that  often  much-neglected 
dwelling  which  we  call  the  body.  In  it  we  see  the  high- 
est product  of  that  creative  skill  which  framed  the 
worlds  and  attuned  the  universe  to  that  grand  harmony, 
''the  music  of  the  spheres." 

On  the  time-stained  walls  of  an  antiquated  church 
in  Rome,  hangs  a  canvas,  painted  by  an  artist  whose 
ashes  have  been  moldering  in  the  grave  for  centuries. 
Every  year  thousands  of  men  and  women  from  all 
Christendom  make  a  pilgrimage  to  this  shrine  of  art, 
and,  as  the  monk  draws  aside  the  costly  covering  which 
protects  it,  they  reverently  speak  the  artist's  name, 
and  say,  "That  was  his  masterpiece." 

The  artist  thus  reverenced  was  but  a  man,  and  his 
work,  though  wonderful,  is  but  the  shadow  of  a  human 
form.  The  artist  himself  was  a  work  of  art  infinitely 
superior,  as  eternity  is  greater  than  a  day.  Man,  the 
paragon  of  creation,  is  the  Creator's  masterpiece,  the 
crowning  work  of  the  Divine  Artist. 

A  gold  watch,  with  its  carved  or  polished  case,  is 
a  beautiful  object  to  look  upon ;  but  it  is  only  when  the 
case  is  opened,  exposing  to  view  the  delicate  wheels 

*See  Anatomical  Chart  in  colors,  37 


38  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

and  levers  by  which  the  hours  and  minutes  are  accu- 
rately measured  off,  that  we  begin  to  appreciate  the 
wonderful  ingenuity  and  skill  displayed  in  this  useful 
mechanism.  So  it  is  with  the  human  body.  Its  beau- 
tiful and  symmetrical  exterior  excites  our  admiration; 
but  it  is  only  when  we  inspect  in  detail  its  intricate 
machinery,  its  various  tissues,  organs,  and  apparatuses, 
and  witness  their  marvelous  processes,  that  we  begin 
to  appreciate  the  infinite  skill  and  wisdom  of  the  Divine 
Artist  who  designed  and  executed  this  most  marvelous 
of  all  created  works. 

Microscopic  Wonders.— The  human  eye,  when 
aided  by  all  the  other  senses,  is  not  able  to  discern  the 
exceeding  delicacy  of  form  and  structure  which  per- 
vades the  entire  human  form ;  and  it  is  only  when  that 
adroit  revealer  of  nature's  secrets,  the  microscope,  is 
brought  to  bear  upon  each  little  thread  of  tissue  in  the 
body,  that  its  infinite  grace  and  beauty  of  structure  and 
marvelous  delicacy  of  form  and  composition  are  dis- 
covered. 

For  ages,  many  of  the  noblest  men  have  devoted 
their  lives  to  the  study  of  the  ''human  form  divine," 
bringing  to  their  aid  every  appliance  afforded  by  the 
whole  range  of  art  and  science,  and  applying  them- 
selves with  untiring  energy  and  patience  to  the  effort 
of  compelling  nature  to  divulge  at  least  a  few  of  the 
secrets  enshrouded  in  the  mystery  of  human  life. 
Every  fiber  of  the  human  body  has  been  subjected  to 
the  most  searching  scrutiny  of  microscopes  so  power- 
ful as  to  make  the  finest  grain  of  sand  equal  in  appar- 
ent size  to  an  enormous  rock.  This  mode  of  studying 
the  body  reveals  it  to  us  as  a  community  of  living, 
active  individuals,  which  the  scientist  calls  cells.  These 
are  gathered  into  groups  called  organs. 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  39 

Each  structure  and  organ  has  been  named  and  care- 
fully described;  and  to  such  a  degree  has  knowledge 
on  this  subject  accumulated  that  the  work  of  a  life- 
time is  required  to  become  fully  acquainted  with  the 
minute  details  of  the  body  and  its  work.  In  this  brief 
chapter  we  can  only  glance  at  a  few  of  the  leading 
characteristics  of  the  body,  and  the  curious  processes 
by  which  human  life  and  activity  are  sustained. 

The  Beginnings  of  Life. —One  warm,  sunny  after- 
noon the  writer  was  coasting  in  a  little  yacht  among 
the  mangrove-covered  isles  of  Florida  Keys.  The 
helmsman  had  run  our  little  ship  into  a  sheltered  bay, 
where  scarcely  a  breath  stirred  the  glistening  waters, 
and  while  slowly  floating  with  the  tide,  we  used  the 
opportunity  to  study  life  beneath  the  ocean  wave. 

One  of  our  two  sturdy  seamen  brings  out  a  water 
telescope,  by  the  aid  of  which,  leaning  over  the  vessel's 
side,  we  are  able  to  look  down  through  the  crystal 
waters  twenty,  fifty,  even  a  hundred  feet,  and  see  with 
wonderful  distinctness  the  curious  and  luxuriant  vege- 
table growths  and  strange  and  uncouth  animal  forms 
which  in  tropical  climes  inhabit  the  vast  bottom  of  the 
briny  deep.  There  are  broad  fields  of  branching,  som- 
ber-colored sea-weeds,  with  great  sea-crabs  running 
out  and  in  among  them ;  all  sorts  of  bivalves  and  uni- 
valves, half  imbedded  in  the  mud;  lovely  corals  and 
madrepores,  attached  to  fragments  of  rocks,  or  cling- 
ing to  some  marine  plant;  all  kinds  of  sponges— red, 
green,  yellow,  black ;  queer  little  starfish,  slowly  crawl- 
ing along  over  the  rocks;  and  wonderful  jelly-fish, 
floating  with  the  tide. 

A  Live  Sponge.— "We  thrust  down  a  long  pole,  with 
a  hook  in  the  end,  and  seize  one  of  those  great  yellow 
sponges.    Hauling  it  up  into  the  boat,  we  examine  the 


40  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

queer,  vegetable-like  animal.  It  seems  to  consist  of  a 
horny  mesh-work  covered  with  slime.  We  put  a  drop 
of  this  slime  under  a  microscope,  and  find  it  to  be  alive. 
This,  in  fact,  is  the  real  sponge,  to  which  the  commonly 
known  sponge  acts  simply  as  a  mechanical  support,  or 
skeleton.  This  living  slime  represents  life  in  one  of 
its  lowest  forms.  Its  substance  is  homogeneous.  It 
really  has  no  structure,  yet  it  feeds,  breathes,  feels,  and 
possesses,  in  a  primitive  form,  most  of  the  character- 
istics of  higher  animals. 

Men  and  Sponges. —Strange  as  it  may  appear, 
there  is  an  affinity  between  the  sponge,  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  scale  of  life,  and  man,  who  stands  at  the 
top.  If  we  follow  the  life  history  of  a  human  being 
back  to  the  earliest  moment  of  its  existence,  we  find 
only  a  little  speck  of  living  jelly,  substantially  like  the' 
live  portion  of  a  sponge.  This  living  bit  of  jelly  has 
no  nerves,  yet  it  feels ;  has  no  lungs,  yet  it  breathes ;  no 
stomach,  yet  it  digests ;  is  without  hands,  yet  it  works. 

The  sponge  was  once  a  mere  little  drop  of  slime, 
which  grew,  gathered  material  from  the  surrounding 
waters,  and  from  this  material  built  for  itself  a  skel- 
eton over  which  to  extend,  and  upon  which  to  live.  So 
the  human  jelly-drop  works  and  grows,  developing  and 
building  cells,  fibers,  structures,  and  organs,  till  at  last 
the  human  body,  with  all  its  wonderful  details,  is  per- 
fected. In  this  marvelous  process  of  transformation, 
in  which  there  seems  to  be  ever  present  a  guiding  in- 
telligence, taking  food  materials  and  arranging  them 
according  to  a  definite  and  wonderful  plan,  we  have 
one  of  the  most  convincing  arguments  of  the  existence 
of  a  beneficent  and  all-wise  Creator. 

Two  Hundred  Bones.— The  body,  like  a  dwelling 
house,  requires  a  framework  for  firmness  and  sym- 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  41 


metry.  This  frame  must  be  not  only  firm,  but  flexible, 
in  order  to  enable  us  to  use  our  bodies  easily  in  the 
great  variety  of  movements  required  of  them.  To  meet 
this  requirement,  the  skeleton  is  possessed  of  a  large 
number  of  separate  bones,  two  hundred  in  all,  which 
are  held  together  by  bands,  or  ligaments,  forming 
joints.  In  early  infancy  the  bones  are  soft  and 
flexible;  but  in  adult  life  they  become  hard  and 
rigid.  In  old  age  their  composition  is  changed  in 
such  a  way  that  they  become  brittle,  and  are  easily 
broken. 

The  bones  are  not  entirely  matured  until  some  years 
after  the  body  ceases  to  grow  in  height,  or  about  the 
age  of  twenty  to  twenty-five.  During  the  years  of 
development,  the  soft  bones  may  be  easily  bent  out  of 
shape  by  bad  positions  in  sleeping  or  sitting,  or  by 
improper  clothing.  It  is  in  this  way  that  curvatures 
of  the  spine,  round  shoulders,  narrow  waists,  and  other 
deformities  are  produced,  illustrated  elsewhere  in  this 
work. 

Cultivated  Deformities.— Some  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous examples  of  deformities  produced  by  artificial 
means,  are  the  feet  of  fashionable  Chinese  women, 
which  are  converted  into  queer  stumps  by  the  opera- 
tion of  bandaging,  which  doubles  the  toes  completely 
under  the  feet;  the  heads  of  certain  tribes  of  North 
American  Indians,  which  are  flattened  by  the  compres- 
sion of  a  board  upon  the  forehead,  or  elongated  into 
the  shape  of  a  cone  by  the  application  of  firm  band- 
ages; and  the  wasp-like  waist  of  the  fashionable  civil- 
ized woman,  whose  perverted  ideas  of  beauty  lead  her 
to  the  vain  and  foolish  attempt  to  improve  the  master- 
piece of  the  great  Artist  by  distorting  it  into  a  form 
which,  though  symmetry  in  an  insect,  is  deformity  in 


42  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

a  human  being.  In  another  chapter  we  speak  more  fully 
upon  this  point. 

This  flexibility  of  the  bony  framework  of  the  body 
in  early  life,  clearly  indicates  the  imj^ortance  of  train- 
ing the  body  to  a  correct  and  symmetrical  development 
during  the  years  of  childhood  and  youth,  while  it  is 
developing  and  being  molded  into  its  permanent  form. 
The  subject  of  exercise  and  physical  development  will 
receive  special  attention  in  another  chapter,  which  it 
is  hoped  the  reader  will  carefully  peruse. 

Five  Hundred  Muscles.— Beefsteak  or  mutton- 
chop  is  a  portion  of  the  muscle  of  an  ox  or  sheep.  The 
lean  meat  of  all  animals  is  composed  of  muscular  tis- 
sue, which  also  makes  up  the  great  bulk  of  the  fleshy 
portion  of  our  own  bodies.  A  piece  of  lean  meat  that 
has  been  salted,  after  being  boiled  may  be  separated 
into  bundles,  each  one  of  which  may  be  divided  into  a 
large  number  of  delicate  threads.  If  one  of  these  is 
placed  under  a  microscope,  it  may  be  divided  into 
fibers  almost  too  small  to  be  seen  with  the  naked  eye. 

How  a  Muscle  "Works.— Each  one  of  these  minute 
fibers,  several  hundreds  of  which  would  be  required  to 
cover  an  inch  in  space,  if  laid  side  by  side,  possesses 
the  power  to  contract  and  then  to  return  again  to  its 
natural  length.  By  the  combined  action  of  the  thou- 
sands of  these  little  living  threads  which  constitute 
each  muscle,  these  organs  are  enabled  to  do  the  work 
assigned  them  in  the  body,  which  is  that  of  producing 
motion  by  contraction. 

The  total  number  of  muscles  in  the  body  is  about 
two  hundred  and  fifty  pair,  which,  with  very  few  ex- 
ceptions, are  arranged  symmetrically,  each  side  of  the 
body  being  provided  with  muscles  exactly  like  those 
of  the  opposite  side. 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  43 

Uses  of  Muscles.— By  means  of  the  muscles  that 
act  upon  the  bones  of  the  legs,  we  are  enabled  to  walk, 
run,  leap,  etc.  The  muscles  of  the  arms  and  hands  en- 
able us  to  work,  write,  play  upon  musical  instruments, 
and  engage  in  all  sorts  of  manual  pursuits.  The  mus- 
cles of  the  trunk  sustain  the  body  erect,  and  form  the 
walls  of  cavities  which  contain  the  internal  organs. 
Those  of  the  chest  are  also  useful  in  breathing,  in  which 
they  act  together  with  a  remarkable  muscle  within  the 
body,  called  the  midriif,  or  diaphragm.  By  delicate 
little  muscles,  the  eye  is  moved  in  various  directions. 
Still  more  delicate  muscles  adjust  the  ear  to  various 
sounds.  It  is  by  the  action  of  the  muscles,  also,  that 
the  face  is  able  to  assume  such  a  vast  variety  of  ex- 
pressions. Anger,  scorn,  jealousy,  grief,  and  joy  are 
all  pictured  upon  the  face  by  varying  movements 
of  the  little  muscles  which  lie  just  underneath  the 
skin. 

Every  movement  of  the  body  is  the  result  of  mus- 
cular action.  Without  muscles,  a  man  would  be  as 
helpless  as  a  plant  or  a  tree,  which  spends  its  whole 
life  just  where  its  seed  happened  to  take  root  in  the 
soil.  The  heart,  which  by  its  incessant  beating  sup- 
plies each  part  of  the  body  with  life-giving  blood,  is 
simple  a  muscle,  and  even  the  blood-vessels,  which  con- 
vey the  blood  to  the  various  portions  of  the  body,  are 
scarcely  more  than  muscular  tubes.  It  is  by  means  of 
muscles,  acting  upon  other  organs,  that  we  are  able  to 
speak,  laugh,  and  sing,  as  well  as  move  about. 

The  muscles  also  add  to  the  beautj^  of  the  body, 
rounding  out  the  form,  covering  the  ugly  protuber- 
ances of  the  bones,  and  giving  to  the  human  form  that 
grace  and  symmetry  which  beautify  it  far  above  all 
other  living  forms.     How  the  muscles  may  be  devel- 


44  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

opecl;  and  how  they  become  diseased  when  not  properly 
exercised  is  considered  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

A  Live  Pump.— Place  your  hand  upon  the  left  side 
of  the  chest,  just  above  the  lower  border  of  the  ribs. 
You  feel  something  which  goes  thump,  thump,  thump. 
Get  a  friend  to  let  you  place  your  ear  upon  his  chest 
at  the  same  spot.  You  hear  something  saying  lub-tup', 
]ub-tup'.  There  is  a  live  pump  in  there,  the  heart, 
which  keeps  working  away  all  your  life,  from  infancy 
to  old  age,  making  sixty  to  seventy  strokes  every  min- 
ute, never  stopping  to  rest  even  for  five  seconds,  though 
sometimes  it  becomes  tired  and  flags  a  little,  and  at 
other  times  gets  excited  and  runs  away  at  a  frightful 
rate,  sometimes  so  fast  one  can  scarcely  count  it. 

The  heart,  as  already  stated,  is  a  hollow  muscle. 
A  man  has  a  little  more  heart  than  a  woman.  His 
heart  weighs  about  ten  ounces,  while  a  woman's  heart 
weighs  but  eight.  Roughly  estimated,  the  heart  may 
be  said  to  be  as  large  as  the  fist.  A  man  with  a  big  fist 
has  a  large  heart  to  furnish  the  brawny  arm  with  an 
abundance  of  blood.  The  heart  of  a  whale  is  as  large 
as  a  wash-tub,  while  that  of  some  small  creatures  is 
microscopic  in  size. 

The  Two  Hearts. —The  heart  has  a  partition 
through  the  middle,  the  longest  way,  which  divides  it 
into  halves,  each  of  which  is  again  separated  into 
two  chambers.  Each  side  of  the  heart  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  distinct  heart.  In  some  lower  animals,  as 
a  dugong,  the  two  sides  are  connected  only  by  a  band 
of  tissue.  Some  insects  have  three  or  four  hearts.  The 
cavities  of  the  heart  are  connected  with  every  part  of 
the  body  by  means  of  a  set  of  tubes,  which  at  the  heart 
are  as  large  as  the  thumb,  but  by  subdivision  become 
so  minute  in  the  tissues  as  to  be  invisible  to  the  naked 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  45 

eye.  Some  of  these  are  so  small  that  more  than  a 
hundred  would  be  required  to  equal  an  ordinary  pin 
in  size. 

Arteries  and  Veins.— There  are  two  sets  of  these 
tubes,  one,  called  arteries,  communicating  with  the 
lower  chambers  of  the  heart ;  the  other,  the  veins,  com- 
municating with  the  upper  chambers  of  the  heart. 
These  two  sets  of  tubes  run  side  by  side  through  the 
various  parts  of  the  body,  finally  joining  at  the  small 
ends  by  means  of  very  small  tubes,  the  capillaries. 
Thus  they  become,  virtually,  a  single  set  of  tubes, 
which  are  large  at  the  heart  ends,  and  small  in  the 
remote  middle. 

The  lower  chambers  of  the  heart  pump  the  blood  out 
into  the  various  parts  of  the  body  through  the  arteries ; 
while  the  upper  chambers  receive  it  back  through  the 
veins.  The  blood  which  leaves  the  left  side  of  the  heart 
returns  through  the  veins  to  the  right  side  of  the  heart, 
while  the  blood  which  leaves  the  right  side  of  the  heart 
after  passing  through  the  lungs,  returns  to  the  upper 
chamber  of  the  left  side.  By  means  of  openings 
guarded  by  valves,  the  blood  is  enabled  to  pass  from 
the  upper  to  the  lower  chamber  on  each  side  of  the 
heart,  but  cannot  pass  from  one  side  to  the  other,  ex- 
cept by  going  the  roundabout  road  of  the  arteries, 
capillaries  and  veins. 

Six  Quarts  of  Blood.— The  arteries  and  veins  of 
a  body  of  average  size  contain  about  twelve  pounds, 
or  six  quarts,  of  blood.  If  you  wish  to  know  something 
about  this  wonderful  fluid,  you  must  thrust  a  pin  into 
the  end  of  your  finger,  squeeze  out  a  tiny  drop,  spread 
it  upon  a  slip  of  glass,  and  put  it  under  a  microscope. 
Looking  at  it  through  the  instrument,  you  will  see  that 
it  is  no  longer  red,  but  of  a  light  amber  color,  and  on 


46  PLAIN    FACTS    FOK    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

looking  closely  you  will  see  that  it  is  made  up  of  a 
clear  fluid  in  which  are  floating  countless  numbers  of 
little  round  bodies,  called  blood  corpuscles. 

dueer  Things  in  the  Blood.  —By  far  the  larger 
number  of  the  blood  corpuscles  are  flat,  or  disk-shaped 
bodies,  thinner  in  the  middle  than  at  the  edge.  They 
are  so  small  that  thirty-five  hundred  of  them  arranged 
in  a  row  would  extend  only  an  inch.  The  separate 
corpuscles  are  yellow  or  amber  colored;  but  when 
crowded  together  in  great  numbers,  as  they  are  found 
in  the  blood,  the  mass  appears  red,  from  which  fact 
they  are  called  red  blood  corpuscles.  By  looking  very 
sharp,  if  the  microscope  is  a  good  one,  you  will  see 
here  and  there  a  corpuscle  somewhat  larger  than  the 
rest,  and  of  a  white  or  grayish  color.  This  is  called 
a  white  blood  corpuscle.  One  of  these  is  found  to  every 
six  or  seven  hundred  of  the  red. 

The  blood  corpuscles  are  not  inert  bodies  which 
float  in  the  blood  current,  but  are  living  creatures. 
Each  one  leads  as  independent  and  individual  a  life  as 
the  fishes  that  swim  in  the  water,  or  the  birds  that  fly 
in  the  air. 

The  life  of  a  corpuscle  is  supposed  to  continue 
about  six  weeks.  Several  thousand  die  every  second  of 
our  lives,  their  dead  bodies  being  destroyed  and  re- 
moved from  the  blood  by  organs  appointed  for  the 
purpose. 

Traveling  Tinkers.— Both  kinds  of  corpuscles  do 
very  important  work.  The  white  corpuscles  travel 
from  point  to  point  in  the  body,  repairing  diseased  or 
injured  parts.  They  are  like  traveling  tinkers,  who 
go  about  looking  for  umbrellas  and  tin  pans  to  mend. 
The  red  blood  corpuscles  are  devoted  to  the  business 
of  carrying  oxygen,  which  they  find  in  the  lungs,  and 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  47 


transmitting  it  to  every  part  of  the  body.  Each  cor- 
puscle has  the  ability  to  carry  a  load  of  oxygen  much 
larger  than  itself.  It  is  only  while  the  corpuscles  are 
loaded  with  oxygen  that  the  blood  is  red.  It  becomes 
a  dark  purple  color  after  the  oxygen  has  been  removed. 
It  is  for  this  reason  that  the  blood  is  red  in  the  arteries 
and  dark  purple  in  the  veins. 

The  colorless  portion  of  the  blood,  called  plasma, 
contains  the  various  substances  out  of  which  the  mus- 
cles, bones,  and  other  tissues  are  formed.  These  sub- 
stances are  derived  from  the  food  which  we  eat  and 
digest.  This  portion  of  the  blood  also  contains  various 
waste  substances,  which  result  from  the  wear  and  tear 
of  the  body,  and  are  being  carried  to  the  several  organs 
set  apart  for  the  business  of  removing  them,  and  thus 
keeping  the  vital  fluid  pure. 

How  the  Blood  Circulates.  — The  business  of  the 
heart  is  to  circulate  the  blood,  which  it  does  so  rapidly 
that  a  quantity  of  blood  equal  to  the  whole  amount  in 
the  body  passes  through  the  organ  every  half  minute. 
The  heart  of  a  vigorous  man  pumps  not  less  than  three 
hundred  barrels  of  blood  daily,  in  doing  which  it  ex- 
ercises as  much  energy  as  would  be  required  to  lift 
one  thousand  stones,  weighing  one  hundred  pounds 
each,  from  the  ground  to  the  shoulder. 

At  each  heart  beat,  a  wave  of  blood  starts  from  the 
heart,  and  travels  to  the  most  remote  ends  of  the  arter- 
ies. "V\^iere  the  arteries  come  near  the  surface,  this 
wave  can  be  felt,  and  is  called  the  pulse.  The  pulse 
rate  is  usually  about  seventy  beats  per  minute.  It  is 
somewhat  more  rapid  in  young  children,  and  is  in- 
creased by  exercise. 

The  blood  starts  out  from  the  lower  chamber  of  the 
left  side  of  the  heart,  from  which  it  is  propelled  through 


48  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

the  arteries  to  the  various  parts  of  the  body.  Thence 
it  is  gathered  up  by  the  veins,  and  carried  to  the  npper 
chamber  on  the  right  side  of  the  heart.  From  this  it 
passes  to  the  lower  chamber  of  the  same  side,  whence 
it  is  forced  through  a  large  artery  to  the  two  lungs, 
through  which  it  passes  for  purification.  It  is  then 
carried  by  veins  to  the  upper  chamber  of  the  left  side 
of  the  heart,  whence  it  passes  to  the  lower  chamber  of 
the  same  side,  from  which  it  is  again  distributed  to  the 
various  parts  of  the  body.  The  blood  thus  makes  two 
circuits  before  it  gets  back  to  its  starting  point,  one 
from  the  lower  left  chamber  of  the  heart  to  the  upper 
right  chamber,  another  from  the  lower  right  chamber 
to  the  upper  left  chamber. 

A  portion  of  the  blood  goes  through  two  sets  of 
veins  before  getting  back  to  the  heart.  The  blood  from 
the  stomach,  spleen,  and  other  abdominal  organs  is 
gathered  up  in  a  large  vein,  which  distributes  it 
through  the  liver  by  means  of  a  second  set  of  veins  and 
capillaries.  After  passing  through  the  liver,  which 
produces  some  remarkable  changes  in  it,  another  vein 
carries  it  to  the  large  vein  which  gathers  blood  from 
the  whole  lower  part  of  the  body,  and  empties  it  into 
the  right  side  of  the  heart.  This  is  called  the  portal 
circulation. 

How  to  Take  Care  of  the  Heart.— A  vigorous 
heart  is  essential  to  a  healthy  and  a  long  life.  A  man 
with  a  weak  heart  is  as  poorly  fitted  for-  the  voyage  of 
life  as  a  ship  would  be  to  cross  the  Atlantic  with  a 
small  or  inefficient  engine. 

Every  organ  in  the  body  depends  upon  the  heart  for 
its  supply  of  blood,  without  which  it  cannot  do  its  work 
Without  a  sufficient  supply  of  blood,  the  bones  deterio- 
rate, the  muscles  become  weak,  and  every  organ  suffers. 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  49 

Proper  exercise  strengthens  the  heart.  If  you  count 
the  pulse  while  lying  down,  you  will  find  it  to  be  about 
sixty.  On  sitting  up,  the  beats  increase  to  sixty-six  or 
sixty-eight.  On  standing  up,  the  pulse  rate  rises  to 
seventy-four  or  seventy-five.  On  taking  active  exer- 
cise, as  in  running  or  jumping,  the  pulse  may  be  quick- 
ened to  one  hundred  beats  per  minute,  or  even  more. 
The  heart  is  a  muscle,  and  proper  exercise,  by  thus 
increasing  its  activity,  may  increase  its  vigor.  Exer- 
cise, by  increasing  the  activity  of  the  heart,  also  secures 
a  more  rapid  distribution  of  the  blood,  and  thus  quick- 
ens all  the  vital  processes  of  the  body. 

loo  violent  exercise  may  injure  the  heart  by  over- 
taxing it,  and  may  even  cause  rupture  of  one  of  the 
delicate  ligaments  by  which  its  valves  are  controlled. 

The  effects  of  tobacco,  alcohol,  and  all  kinds  of 
stimulants  are  particularly  serious  upon  the  heart, 
weakening  it,  at  first  temporarily  and  afterward  per- 
manently, by  causing  degeneration  of  its  tissues  into 
fat.  A  great  share  of  the  deaths  from  so-called  heart 
disease  may  fairly  be  charged  to  alcohol  and  tobacco. 

Bad  Blood,— The  blood  may  be  poor  in  quality  be- 
cause of  impurities  gathered  from  the  tissues  and  not 
removed  with  sufficient  rapidity,  or  injurious  sub- 
stances which  have  been  taken  in  with  the  food,  or  from 
indulgence  in  stimulants  or  narcotics.  It  may  be  im- 
poverished by  having  an  insufficient  supply  of  the  ele- 
ments required  to  nourish  the  tissues.  To  keep  the 
blood  pure  and  of  good  quality,  one  must  be  careful 
to  keep  in  good  active  operation  the  skin,  lungs,  liver, 
kidneys,  and  bowels,— channels  through  which  its  im- 
purities are  removed,—  and  must  carefully  avoid  tak- 
ing into  the  system  substances  which  cannot  be  used 
and  which  must  be  removed.     Of  this  class,  alcohol, 


50  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 


tobacco,  and  the  various  stimulating  condiments,  such 
as  mustard,  pepper,  pepper-sauce,  etc.,  are  among  those 
most  commonly  used. 

An  examination  of  the  blood  after  a  sleepless  night, 
or  when  an  insufficiency  of  food  has  been  taken,  shows 
a  very  great  decrease  in  the  red  blood  corpuscles,  which 
sufficiently  emphasizes  the  necessity  for  an  abundance 
of  sleep  and  nutritious  food.  An  eminent  New  York 
physician  claims  to  be  able  to  tell  by  examination  of 
the  blood  whether  a  person  has  slept  well  the  previous 
night,  or  whether  he  has  been  indulging  in  excesses  of 
any  sort. 

If  the  blood  is  kept  pure  and  well  supplied  with  the 
elements  necessary  to  build  up  the  body,  the  organs  of 
the  body  will  be  quite  certain  to  remain  in  health. 

Two  Thousand  Feet  of  Lungs.— Did  you  ever  see 
a  frog  drink!— Very  likely  not.  Let  us  go  in  search 
of  some  place  where  the  croakers  abound.  Here  we 
are,  and  there  is  a  big  fellow  sitting  on  the  bank.  Now 
he  goes,  splash !  into  the  water,  and  away  down  out  of 
sight  in  the  mud.  Never  mind,  we  will  sit  down  and 
rest  quietly;  soon  we  shall  see  him  coming  up  to  the 
surface  again  to  get  a  drink.  There  he  comes  now. 
As  he  gets  almost  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  he  lets 
out  of  his  mouth  three  or  four  big  bubbles  of  air.  He 
comes  slowly  to  the  top,  and  protrudes  above  the  water 
the  mere  tip  of  his  nose,  in  which  we  shall  see,  by  look- 
ing closely,  two  little  holes  scarcely  larger  than  a  pin. 

Drinking  Air.— Now  notice  his  broad  throat.  We 
will  see  that  it  moves  up  and  down  as  though  he  were 
drinking.  In  fact,  he  is  drinking,  not  water,  but  air. 
The  frog  lives  in  such  damp  places,  he  probably  never 
gets  dry,  and  so  does  not  need  to  drink  water;  but  air 
he  must  drink,  or  he  dies. 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  51 


If  some  cruel  fellow  should  catch  that  frog  and  cut 
off  his  hind  legs  to  eat,  you  might  dissect  his  body,  and 
in  doing  so  you  would  find  inside  of  it  two  good  sized 
air-bags,  connected  with  the  frog's  mouth  by  a  little 
tube.  Before  the  frog  goes  under  water,  he  swallows 
air  sufficient  to  fill  these  bags ;  then,  after  being  under 
water  awhile,  he  comes  up  to  exchange  it  for  a  fresh 
supply. 

We  have  in  our  bodies  air-bags,  called  lungs,  simi- 
lar to  those  of  the  frog,  only  much  more  complicated 
in  structure.  A  frog  is  obliged  to  swallow  air  because 
he  has  no  ribs;  but  we  are  enabled,  by  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  ribs  forming  the  chest,  to  expand  the  lungs, 
and  thus  suck  in  the  air  through  the  mouth  or  nose. 
A  frog  only  needs  to  exchange  the  air  in  its  lungs  once 
in  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  and  may  under  some  circum- 
stances go  without  breathing  for  a  much  longer  time. 
But  our  lungs  require  that  the  air  which  they  contain 
should  be  changed  eighteen  or  twenty  times  a  minute 
when  we  are  quiet,  and  twice  as  fast  when  we  run  or 
engage  in  any  violent  exercise. 

The  use  of  the  lungs  is  to  remove  certain  impurities 
from  the  blood.  To  facilitate  this  work,  they  are  lined 
with  a  delicate  membrane  which,  if  spread  out,  would 
cover  a  surface  of  more  than  two  thousand  square  feet, 
or  about  eighty  square  rods.  Underneath  this  mem- 
brane, an  amount  of  blood  equal  to  the  entire  quan- 
tity contained  in  the  body,  passes  every  minute  for 
purification,  giving  off  certain  poisonous  elements, 
and  taking  up  the  life-giving  oxygen,  which  it  car- 
ries to  all  the  tissues,  thus  giving  them  life  and 
activity. 

A  Plant  that  Eats  Flies. —Did  you  ever  see  a 
plant  eat?— Probably  not.     Most  plants  eat  in  such  a 


5Z  PLAIN    FACTS    FOK    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

quiet  way  that  we  do  not  observe  them  take  their  food. 
Plants  usually  take  in  most  of  their  food  through  theii' 
roots.  They  also  take  in  carbonic  acid  gas,  a  sort  of 
gaseous  food,  through  their  leaves.  There  is,  however, 
a  queer  plant  which  grows  in  North  Carolina,  the 
leaves  of  which  actually  eat  flies.  More  than  this :  the 
plant  not  only  eats  flies,  but  it  catches  them.  When  a 
fly  touches  a  leaf,  it  shuts  up  and  holds  the  fly  a  pris- 
oner. After  about  a  week,  the  leaf  opens,  and,  strange 
to  say,  the  fly  has  disappeared.  The  leaf  not  only 
catches  the  fly,  but  afterward  secretes  a  fluid  which 
digests  it,  and  after  it  is  dissolved,  it  absorbs  it.  The 
fly  has  actually  been  eaten. 

This  curious  behavior  of  the  Venus  Fly-Trap 
affords  the  simplest  illustration  of  digestion. 

Thirty  Feet  of  Stomach.— A  tiny  creature  that 
lives  in  the  warm  waters  of  the  tropics,  has  within  its 
body  a  little  sac,  which  serves  the  triple  purpose  of 
heart,  lungs,  and  stomach.  In  many  of  the  lower  orders 
of  animal  life,  the  heart  and  stomach  are  all  one  organ ; 
but  in  man  the  three  processes  of  blood-circulation, 
air-breathing,  and  food-digestion  are  carried  on  by 
three  distinct  organs.  As  commonly  used,  the  term 
stomach  includes  all  the  organs  employed  in  digesting 
food,  of  which  the  stomach  proper  is  only  one,  and  by 
no  means  the  most  important. 

The  digestive  apparatus  consists  of  a  very  crooked 
tube  some  thirty  feet  in  length,  which  extends  from  the 
lips  to  the  other  extremity  of  the  trunk.  Along  this 
tube  are  ranged  various  organs  which  have  more  or 
less  to  do  with  the  process  of  digestion. 

A  Live  Mill.— At  the  upper  end  of  this  tube  are 
placed  the  teeth,  which,  with  the  jaws,  constitute  a  mill, 
where  the  food  is  ground  so  as  to  enable  the  other 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  53 

organs  to  act  upon  it  with  ease.  Some  animals,  which 
are  not  supplied  with  teeth  in  their  mouths,  have  ex- 
cellent teeth  in  their  stomachs,  by  which  the  food  is 
masticated  in  a  most  thorough  manner.  Wlien  dis- 
posed to  eat  too  fast,  we  should  remember  that  our 
stomachs  have  no  teeth ;  and,  hence,  if  the  food  is  ever 
chewed,  it  must  be  done  before  it  is  swallowed. 

The  tongue  aids  in  the  grinding  process,  by  keep- 
ing the  food  between  the  teeth,  and  moving  it  from  one 
side  to  the  other. 

Three  pairs  of  glands,  arranged  on  either  side  of 
the  mouth,  pour  into  it  a  clear  liquid,  the  saliva,  which 
is  mixed  with  the  food  to  soften  and  otherwise  change 
it.  A  narrow  tube  leads  from  the  back  of  the  mouth 
to  the  stomach  proper,  situated  just  below  the  lower 
end  of  the  breastbone. 

The  stomach  is  simply  a  dilated  portion  of  the  di- 
gestive tube,  or  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  the  alimentary 
canal.  It  holds  about  three  pints.  In  its  walls  are 
curious  little  pockets,  in  which  is  formed  the  gastric 
juice.  The  lower  end  of  the  stomach  joins  the  small 
intestines,  which  are  folded  up  in  the  abdominal  cavity, 
and  measure  about  twenty-five  feet. 

A  few  inches  below  the  stomach,  a  small  opening  is 
found  in  the  small  intestines,  through  which  enter  two 
very  important  liquids,  the  pancreatic  juice  and  the 
bile.  The  first  is  formed  by  the  pancreas,  a  hammer- 
shaped  gland  which  lies  just  back  of  the  stomach;  the 
latter,  by  the  liver,  which  lies  at  the  right  side  of  the 
stomach,  partially  overlapping  it. 

All  along  the  small  intestine  are  scattered  minute 
little  glands  buried  in  the  mucous  membrane,  which 
make  another  fluid,  called  the  intestinal  juice.  At  the 
lower  right-hand  corner  of  the  abdominal  cavity,  the 


5f  PLAIN    FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

small  intestine  widens  out  into  the  colon,  or  large  in- 
testine, which  is  about  five  feet  in  length,  and  completes 
the  digestive  apparatus. 

Five  Wonderful  Fluids.— As  we  have  already 
noted,  there  are  several  fluids  concerned  in  the  process 
of  digestion,  —the  saliva,  the  gastric  juice,  the  bile,  the 
pancreatic  juice,  and  the  intestinal  juice.  These  are 
all  used  to  dissolve  the  food  so  it  can  be  absorbed  by, 
or  taken  into,  the  blood.  Each  fluid  has  its  particular 
work  to  do  in  transforming  some  portion  of  the  food 
into  a  substance  different  from  what  it  was,  and  pre- 
paring it  to  be  received  into  the  blood  and  converted 
into  tissue.  Thus,  the  saliva  acts  upon  the  starch  of 
the  food,  changing  it  to  sugar.  The  gastric  juice  di- 
gests albumen.  The  bile  digests  fat,  and  aids  in  the 
absorption  of  other  portions  of  food  after  being  di- 
gested. The  pancreatic  juice  digests  starch,  albumen, 
and  fats,  the  three  most  important  elements  of  food. 
The  intestinal  juice  digests  each  of  the  kinds  of  food 
elements  mentioned  above,  and  also  cane  sugar.  It  is 
important  to  notice  that  cane  sugar  is  digested  only  by 
the  intestinal  juice,  which  acts,  not  throughout  the 
whole  alimentary  canal,  but  only  in  the  intestinal  por- 
tion of  it. 

Digestion  of  a  Mouthful  of  Bread. —If  we  could 
see  a  morsel  of  bread  undergoing  digestion  we  should 
notice,  first,  that  while  it  is  being  chewed,  the  saliva 
converts  a  small  portion  of  the  starch  into  sugar. 
After  it  is  swallowed,  the  gastric  juice  begins  its  work, 
and  digests  the  albuminous  portion  of  the  bread,  known 
as  gluten.  Just  after  it  passes  out  of  the  stomach  into 
the  intestine,  the  liver  and  gall  bladder  contract,  and 
pour  out  a  quantity  of  bile,  which  searches  out  any 
little  jDortion  of  oil  the  bread  may  contain,  or  the  but- 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  55 

ter  which  may  have  been  eaten  with  it,  and  converts 
this  fatty  matter  into  a  creamy  substance,  which  is 
readily  absorbed  and  distributed  throughout  the  body. 
The  pancreatic  juice  next  finds  the  digesting  morsel, 
and  completes  the  work  begun  by  the  saliva,  the  gas- 
tric juice,  and  the  bile,  doing  the  work  of  these  three 
fluids  much  more  thoroughly  and  efficiently  than  they 
are  capable  of  doing  it  themselves.  The  intestinal 
juice  acts  upon  any  little  portion  of  cane  sugar  which 
may  have  been  taken  with  the  food,  and  gives  the  fin- 
ishing touches  to  the  work  which  has  been  begun  by 
the  preceding  digestive  fluids. 

Thus  the  mouthful  of  bread  is  completely  digested. 
It  is  next  absorbed  by  millions  of  hungry  little  mouths, 
which  are  ready  to  suck  up  the  digested  food  into  the 
blood-vessels,  by  which  it  is  carried,  first  to  the  liver, 
and  thence  to  the  heart,  from  which  it  is  distributed  to 
the  various  parts  of  the  body. 

Three  and  One-Half  Pounds  of  Liver.— Neatly 
tucked  away  under  the  lower  ribs  of  the  right  side,  is 
one  of  the  most  wonderful  organs  of  the  whole  body, 
the  liver.  If  you  should  put  a  little  bit  of  its  chocolate- 
colored  tissue  under  a  microscope,  you  would  find  it 
made  up  of  thousands  of  little  round  cells,  each  of 
which  is  a  busy  little  worker,  devoted  to  the  trade  of 
bile-making.  The  whole  structure  of  the  liver  is  made 
up  of  these  cells  together  with  the  vessels  which  con- 
vey blood  through  it,  and  the  delicate  system  of  sewers 
which  collect  the  bile,  when  it  is  formed  by  the  bile- 
making  cells,  and  convey  it  into  a  large  sac  placed  on 
its  under  surface,  called  the  gall  bladder.  A  small  tube 
leads  from  the  liver  and  gall  bladder  to  the  small  intes- 
tine, into  which  it  opens  a  few  inches  below  the  stom- 
ach.   The  weight  of  the  entire  organ  is  about  three  and 


56  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

one-half  pounds,  being  the  largest  of  all  the  glands  in 
the  body. 

The  Business  of  Bile.— The  bile  is  one  of  the  most 
useful,  and  certainly  the  most  remarkable,  of  all  the 
fluids  of  the  body.  It  is  a  golden  yellow  color  in  human 
beings  and  dogs.  The  bile,  or  gall,  of  an  ox  is  green; 
and  in  certain  diseases  persons  vomit  bile  of  a  green 
color,  which  has  led  to  the  supposition  that  human  bile 
is  green  also.  This  is  not  correct,  the  green  color  of 
vomited  bile  being  due  to  changes  which  take  place  in 
the  stomach,  where  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  gastric 
juice.  The  bile  has  more  uses  than  any  other  fluid  in 
the  body. 

1.  It  aids  digestion,  helping  to  change  the  fats  of 
our  food  into  a  creamy  substance,  called  an  emulsion, 
which  can  be  easily  absorbed. 

2.  The  bile  aids  in  all  of  the  digestive  processes  which 
take  place  in  the  small  intestine,  by  destroying  the  ac- 
tivity of  the  gastric  juice,  which  is  strongly  acid,  and, 
except  for  the  neutralizing  influence  of  the  bile  upon 
it,  would  prevent  the  action  of  the  pancreatic  and 
intestinal  fluids.  Bile  also  excites  the  intestines  to 
contraction,  by  which  the  digesting  food  is  moved 
along,  and  in  some  mysterious  manner  helps  the 
mucous  membrane  to  absorb  the  food  after  it  has  been 
digested. 

3.  It  consists  largely  of  waste  substances  which 
have  been  gathered  from  various  parts  of  the  body. 
When  the  liver  does  not  do  its  work  properly,  these 
foul  matters  accumulate,  and  the  person  '^  feels  blue." 

Liver  Work.— But  the  liver  does  something  more 
than  make  bile.  As  before  stated,  most  of  the  blood 
which  passes  through  the  abdominal  organs— the  stom- 
ach, intestines,  pancreas,  and  spleen— is  gathered  into 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  57 


one  large  vein,  which  carries  it  to  the  liver,  through 
which  it  is  distributed.  The  object  of  this  arrangement 
is  to  enable  the  liver  to  complete  the  process  of  digest- 
ing such  elements  of  food  as  have  been  absorbed  before 
the  work  was  finished,  and  especially  to  remove  from 
the  blood  deleterious  substarces  which  have  been  ab- 
sorbed with  the  food. 

One  of  the  most  important  offices  of  the  liver  is  to 
gather  out  of  the  blood  and  store  up  in  itself,  in  the 
form  of  a  kind  of  animal  starch,  the  large  amount  of 
sugar  which  is  sometimes  eaten  with  our  food,  and  is 
always  formed  in  the  process  of  digestion  when  starchy 
foods  are  eaten.  If  these  were  allowed  to  enter  the 
general  circulation  at  once,  great  mischief  would  be 
done  to  many  organs  of  the  body ;  and  it  is  to  prevent 
this  that  the  liver  separates  the  greater  portion  of  it, 
and  doles  it  out  to  the  blood  in  small  doses,  in  the  inter- 
vals between  our  meals.  It  is  readily  apparent  that  if 
a  person  habitually  eats  more  sugar  than  it  is  possible 
for  the  liver  thus  to  take  care  of,  great  harm  may  be 
done  to  the  liver,  as  it  will  be  overtaxed  in  trying  to 
do  its  duty  to  the  entire  body. 

Another  serious  injury  which  results  from  the  ex- 
cessive use  of  sugar  as  connected  with  the  liver,  is  this : 
Wlien  the  liver  fails  to  convert  all  of  the  saccharine 
matter  brought  to  it  with  the  digested  food,  the  sugar 
passes  on  into  the  circulation  in  a  form  in  which  it 
cannot  be  used  by  the  system.  To  prevent  the  serious 
damage  which  would  otherwise  result  to  other  organs 
and  tissues,  the  kidneys  exert  themselves  in  removing 
the  surplus  sugar,  and  thus  is  set  up  the  disease  known 
as  diabetes.  This  is  a  malady  so  serious  and  so  diffi- 
cult of  cure  that  it  is  certainly  the  part  of  wisdom  to 
carefully  avoid  the  causes  by  which  it  is  produced. 


58  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

There  is  really  very  small  excuse  for  the  use  of  sugar 
in  its  usual  form,  as  nature  gives  us  an  abundance  of 
sweet  fruits. 

The  liver  is  a  most  sacrificing  organ,  not  hesitating 
to  remove  from  the  blood  poisonous  substances,  even 
retaining  them  in  itself,  instead  of  allowing  them  to 
circulate  in  the  rest  of  the  body.  Hence  it  is  that  when 
a  person  dies  in  a  drunken  fit,  the  liver  is  found  to  con- 
tain more  alcohol  than  any  other  part  of  the  body. 
The  same  is  true  of  mercury,  arsenic,  and  other  metallic 
poisons,  in  cases  in  which  death  has  resulted  from  their 
use.  Hence,  also,  follows  the  great  mischief  to  the 
liver  from  the  use  of  mustard,  pepper,  pepper-sauce, 
and  all  hot  and  irritating  condiments.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  generous  behavior  of  the  liver,  it  is  blamed  for 
a  vast  number  of  human  ailments  for  which  it  is  not 
responsible.  Take  good  care  of  your  liver,  and  it  will 
never  tire  of  taking  excellent  care  of  you. 

Twenty  Square  Feet  of  Skin.— Anatomists  tell 
us  that  if  the  entire  skin  of  the  body  were  removed 
and  spread  out,  it  would  cover  an  area  of  twenty  feet, 
—considerable  more  territory  than  one  would  be  likely 
to  estimate. 

Viewed  by  the  unaided  eye,  this  covering  of  the 
body  is  not  particularly  interesting.  Viewed  with  the 
microscoi)e,  the  skin  is  found  to  be  a  very  complicated 
and  wonderful  structure.  Its  outer  portion  is  com- 
posed of  several  layers  of  little  flat  scales,  which  over- 
lap one  another,  and  form  a  sort  of  horny  protection 
for  the  more  delicate  parts  beneath.  Its  lower  portion 
contains  the  elements  which  constitute  the  true  skin, 
and  these  consist,  first,  of  a  network  of  elastic  fibers, 
which  give  to  the  skin  its  great  distensibility.  As  the 
body  develops,  the  skin  is  stretched  to  accommodate 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  59 


itself  to  the  growing  form.  Tlie  outer  skin  contains 
—besides  this  elastic  network,  and  dispersed  araon^ 
its  meshes— various  nerves,  which  give  to  it  sensibility 
to  touch,  and  the  power  of  discerning  differences  in 
temperature,  and,  most  important  of  all,  great  num- 
bers of  little  tubes,  each  a  small  fraction  of  an  inch  in 
length.  The  lower  portion  of  each  of  these  tubes  is 
coiled  deep  down  in  the  skin,  while  the  upper  part 
passes  obliquely  to  the  surface.  These  are  sweat 
glands,  of  which,  taken  altogether,  there  are  several 
million  in  the  body. 

The  uses  of  the  skin  are — 

1.  Protection.  It  is  a  good  non-conductor  of  heat, 
and  so  protects  the  sensitive  tissues  beneath  from  ordi- 
nary changes  of  temperature,  and  by  its  toughness 
shields  them  from  harm  which  would  otherwise  result 
from  contact  with  objects. 

2.  Respiration.  The  skin,  like  the  lungs,  is  a  breath- 
ing organ.  Frogs  can  breathe  with  their  skin  so  ac- 
tively that  one  of  them  has  been  known  to  live  for  some 
days  after  its  lungs  had  been  removed.  The  human 
skin  is  less  active  as  a  breathing  organ  than  that  of  the 
frog;  but  its  action  in  this  respect  is  quite  too  impor- 
tant to  be  safely  ignored.  It  is  through  the  interfer- 
ence with  this  breathing  process  that  neglect  of  clean- 
liness of  the  skin  results  in  harmful  effects.  To  allow 
the  skin  to  become  covered  with  impurities  is  just  as 
much  a  choking  process  as  constriction  of  the  neck  or 
compression  of  the  waist. 

3.  Excretion.  The  skin  is  an  organ  of  excretion, 
carrying  out  of  the  body,  through  the  sweat,  a  large 
amount  of  impurities.  This  is  evidenced  by  the  fact 
that  persons  who  eat  large  quantities  of  salt  observe 
that  the  perspiration  has  a  very  saline  taste,  and  it  is 


60  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

also  known  by  the  offensive  odor  soon  acquired  by  the 
sweat  if  not  removed  by  bathing. 

4.  Temperature.  The  skin  performs  a  very  im- 
portant work  in  regulating  the  bodily  temperature. 
The  temperature  of  the  interior  of  the  body  is  always 
about  one  hundred  degrees,  although  the  surrounding 
temperature  may  vary  from  seven  degrees  below,  to 
three  hundred  degrees  above.  It  is  through  the 
action  of  the  sweat  glands  and  the  evaporation  of 
moisture  from  the  skin  that  the  body  is  enabled  to 
endure  the  high  degrees  of  temperature  to  which  it 
may  be  subjected,  for  short  periods  at  least,  without 
injury. 

5.  Sensibility.  The  skin  is  an  organ  of  sense,  giv- 
ing us  information  concerning  the  form  and  consistence 
of  objects,  their  temperature,  and  also  the  degree  of 
pressure  which  they  exert.  Sensibility  to  pain  also 
serves  as  a  warning  to  protect  other  organs  of  the  body 
from  injury. 

The  Kidneys.— Imbedded  in  the  tissues  of  the  body, 
at  the  back  of  the  abdominal  cavity,  and  a  little  below 
the  stomach,  are  placed  two  of  the  most  important 
organs  of  the  body,  the  kidneys.  These,  though  very 
unlike  the  skin  in  appearance,  are  in  some  respects 
closely  related  to  it. 

The  kidney  is  chiefly  made  up  of  little  round  cells, 
from  each  of  which  runs  a  delicate  tube.  The  tubes  run 
from  the  outside  of  the  organ  inward,  joining  together 
to  form  larger  tubes  as  they  approach  the  center,  where 
they  communicate  with  quite  a  large  cavity,  from  which 
a  large  tube,  called  the  ureter,  leads  to  the  bladder. 
The  business  of  the  cells  and  tubes  is  to  separate  from 
the  blood  a  fluid  containing  various  poisonous  sub- 
stances. 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  63 

Three  Pounds  of  Brains.  —  The  brain  of  an  aver- 
age man  weighs  about  three  pounds.  A  woman's 
brain,  like  her  body,  weighs  a  little  less  than  that  of 
a  man.  If  we  examine  a  speck  of  brain  substance  under 
the  microscope,  we  find  it  to  be  largely  composed  of 
curious  living  cells,  some  of  which  look  very  much  like 
a  tadpole  with  a  long  tail;  others,  like  a  spider  with 
legs  projecting  on  all  sides.  Each  of  these  little  cells, 
half  a  thousand  of  which  would  be  required  to  make 
a  row  an  inch  long,  is  a  living  creature,  and  has  its 
particular  work  to  do.  If  we  examine  with  sufficient 
care,  we  shall  find  that  the  tails,  or  fingers,  possessed 
by  the  little  creature  while  in  its  natural  position  in 
the  brain,  before  it  has  been  torn  from  its  surround- 
ings, are  immensely  long,  running  to  all  parts  of  the 
body.  Some  of  these  fingers  are  so  small  that  a  hun- 
dred million  of  them  would  be  required  to  make  a 
bundle  as  thick  as  the  thumb.  Thousands  of  these 
fibers  gathered  together  form  the  nerves  and  greater 
part  of  the  spinal  cord,  by  means  of  which  the  brain 
is  connected  with  all  parts  of  the  body. 

When  a  pin  is  thrust  into  the  end  of  the  finger,  it 
gives  pain  because  in  the  brain  are  little  cells  which 
send  out  long,  hair-like  fibers  that  end  in  the  skin  cover- 
ing the  part  where  the  pin  is  applied.  The  cells  in  the 
brain  recognize  the  pain,  and  refer  it  to  the  finger. 
These  curious  little  organisms  are  called  nerve  cells. 

Twelve  Hundred  Million  Nerve  Cells  are  sup- 
posed to  be  in  the  brain  and  spinal  cord.  These  won- 
derful cells  control  the  whole  body.  All  the  other  or- 
gans of  the  body  may  be  considered  as  simply  servants 
of  the  brain.  The  little  cells  send  out  their  long  fin- 
gers to  the  muscles,  glands,  lungs,  heart,  stomach, 
liver,  and  all  the  other  organs,  and  through  them  send 


62  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

impulses  to  these  various  organs,  by  which  they  are 
made  to  act.  Thus,  when  we  wish  to  move  the  hand, 
the  cells  in  the  brain  which  communicate  with  the  mus- 
cles of  the  arm,  send  down  an  order  to  the  muscles  to 
contract,  and  do  our  bidding.  The  heart  beats,  the 
lungs  breathe,  the  liver  makes  bile,— all  in  obedience 
to  the  commands  received  from  the  nerve  cells  which 
preside  over  them.  The  nerve  cells  are  divided  into 
classes,  each  of  which  has  its  particular  work  to  do. 

dueer  Thinking.— The  principal  business  of  nerve 
cells  is  to  think  and  feel.  The  nerve  cells  found  in  the 
spinal  cord  are  chiefly  of  two  classes.  One  class  receives 
impressions  brought  through  their  fibers  from  the  out- 
side of  the  body.  These  impressions  they  communicate 
to  another  class  of  cells,  which,  through  their  branches, 
send  out  impulses  to  the  parts  from  which  the  impres- 
sions came,  or  to  other  parts,  causing  them  to  act.  For 
example,  when  the  bottom  of  the  foot  is  tickled,  the 
limbs  draw  up  in  spite  of  us.  It  does  the  same  thing 
if  we  are  asleep,  or  if  the  limb  is  paralyzed  so  that  we 
cannot  control  it  by  the  will.  This  is  a  very  simple 
kind  of  thinking,  which  is  done  by  the  nerve  cells  of 
the  spinal  cord.  There  is  a  special  collection  of  nerve 
cells  in  the  enlarged  upper  end  of  the  spinal  cord, 
called  the  medulla,  which  does  a  little  higher  grade  of 
thinking.  These  cells  regulate  the  activity  of  the  heart, 
bowels,  liver,  and  other  internal  organs.  At  the  base 
of  the  brain  a  large  collection  of  nerve  matter  consti- 
tutes what  is  called  the  little  brain,  which  has  for  its 
important  function  the  duty  of  regulating  the  action 
of  those  nerve  cells  that  control  the  muscles,  so  that 
the  muscular  movements  may  be  orderly  and  able  to 
accomplish  what  is  desired  of  them. 

Arranged  at  the  under  part  of  the  brain  are  found 


THE    BODY    TEMPLE  63 


nerve  centers  having  charge  of  the  organs  by  which 
we  are  able  to  see,  hear,  smell,  taste,  etc.  When  we 
see  objects,  it  is  because  impressions  are  received  by 
the  eye,  and  are  carried  by  nerves  to  the  cells  at  the 
base  of  the  brain  which  have  charge  of  the  sense  of 
sight,  and  which  are  thereby  made  to  act.  "Wliatever 
causes  these  cells  to  act,  will  give  us  the  impression  of 
light,  as  illustrated  by  the  effect  of  a  blow  upon  the 
head,  or  a  fall  upon  the  ice,  which  causes  us  to  see 
stars,  by  communicating  a  shock  to  the  nerve  cells  that 
have  charge  of  the  sight. 

Overtopping  all  the  rest  of  the  nervous  system  is 
to  be  found  the  great  brain,  which  does  the  highest 
kind  of  thinking  of  which  we  are  capable.  It  is  with 
this  part  of  the  brain  that  we  are  enabled  to  reason. 
Here  is  also  located  the  memory  and  all  the  various 
mental  and  moral  faculties.  This  portion  of  the  nerv- 
ous system  was  designed  to  rule  all  the  rest.  It  is  the 
organ  of  mind  and  of  will. 

Brain  and  Mind.— The  next  question,  ''What  is  the 
mind!"  we  do  not  need  to  discuss,  more  than  to  ob- 
serve that  it  is  the  result  of  the  action  of  the  brain, 
the  highest  kind  of  thinking  done  by  nerve  cells.  How 
brain  action  results  in  thought,  we  cannot  understand ; 
but  it  is  also  quite  as  difficult  for  us  to  understand  how 
brain  action  results  in  muscular  action,  or  in  the  mani- 
festation of  force  of  anj  sort.  That  the  brain  is  the 
organ  of  mind,  and  that  mind  is  the  result  of  its  ac- 
tivity, is  evidenced  by  a  number  of  important  facts: 

1.  When  the  brain  is  injured  by  disease  or  by  acci- 
dent, the  mind  is  impaired  or  destroyed,  though  the 
rest  of  the  body  may  remain  in  comparative  health. 
When  the  brain  ceases  to  act,  as  in  sound  sleep,  con- 
sciousness and  mind  action  also  cease. 


64  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

2.  The  amount  of  intelligence  which  an  animal  is 
able  to  exhibit,  depends  upon  the  size  of  the  thinking 
portion  of  the  brain  in  proportion  to  its  body.  Man 
is  the  most  intelligent  of  all  animals,  simply  because 
he  has  more  cells  capable  of  thinking  than  any  other 
animal.  There  are  animals  which  possess  a  larger 
brain  than  man,  but  none  in  which  the  thinking  por- 
tion of  the  brain  is  so  great,  in  proportion  to  the  size 
of  the  body.  It  is  also  observed  that  men  whose  brains 
are  largest  in  proportion  to  their  body,  other  things 
being  equal,  possess  the  greatest  intelligence.  For  ex- 
ample, a  man  who  has  a  four-pound  brain  is  more  likely 
to  be  a  philosopher,  or  to  be  distinguished  for  great 
mental  powers,  than  a  man  whose  brain  has  only  the 
average  weight  of  three  pounds;  while  a  man  whose 
brain  weighs  but  two  pounds,  is  certain  to  be  an 
idiot. 

Our  Eyes.— Nearly  all  animals  possess  certain 
nerves  which  are  sensitive  to  light.  Even  the  jelly- 
fish, which  has  hardly  any  nerves,  and  certainly  has 
no  eyes,  seems  happiest  in  the  sunlight,  and  is  dis- 
turbed whenever  a  cloud  passes  over  the  sun. 

Did  you  ever  see  a  leech, — one  of  those  curious 
creatures  which  the  doctor  sometimes  applies  to  draw 
away  a  little  blood  from  an  inflamed  part?  If  you 
should  examine  one  of  these  strange  animals,  you 
would  find,  close  to  the  little  opening  which  constitutes 
its  mouth,  a  circular  row  of  minute  red  spots.  These 
are  its  eyes.  By  examining  one  of  these  red  spots 
with  a  microscope,  it  is  found  to  consist  of  a  little  dark 
pigment,  or  coloring  matter,  over  which  is  spread  a 
thin,  transparent  skin.  Between  the  colored  and  the 
transparent  layers  is  placed  a  very  delicate  membrane, 
which  contains  the  nerves  of  sight.    These  nerves  pass 


THE   BODY   TEMPLE  65 


from  the  eye-spots  back  into  the  creature's  little  brain, 
where  they  unite  with  certain  cells  which  have  charge 
of  the  sense  of  sight. 

The  leech  has  the  simplest  kind  of  a  seeing  appa- 
ratus. The  human  eye  is  made  upon  essentially  the 
same  plan.  The  eyeball,  as  the  round  globe  of  the  eye 
is  called,  has  a  dark  colored  lining  at  its  back  part, 
and  a  transparent  membrane  in  front. 

Just  inside  of  the  delicate  lining  is  stretched  out 
the  membrane  which  contains  the  nerves  of  sight.  The 
space  between  this  and  the  transparent  membrane  in 
front  is  filled  up  with  transparent  substances  through 
which  the  light  readily  passes.  In  front,  and  just  be- 
hind the  transparent  portion,  is  placed  a  little  curtain 
with  a  hole  in  the  center,  which  contracts  and  enlarges 
according  to  the  intensity  of  the  light,  so  as  to  protect 
the  delicate  nerves  of  sight  from  injury  upon  exposure 
to  light  which  is  too  bright. 

A  snail's  eyes  are  perched  up  on  two  long  stems 
which  most  people  call  feelers.  "When  he  wants  to  look 
in  different  directions,  he  simply  twists  his  eye  stalks 
around;  and  when  he  is  frightened,  he  pulls  them  in 
and  tucks  them  away  in  two  little  pockets  in  his  head. 
Our  eyes  are  set  back  in  deep,  bony  sockets  so  as  to  be 
protected  all  the  time,  and  we  are  less  troubled  caring 
for  them. 

Our  Ears.— The  little  barnacle  which  passes  its  life 
clinging  to  the  slimy  bottom  of  some  old  ship,  has  the 
simplest  kind  of  an  ear  imaginable.  The  organ  in  this 
animal  is  a  little  sac  filled  with  fluid,  which  hangs  in 
a  chamber  communicating  with  the  surface,  and  filled 
with  sea  water.  In  the  walls  of  this  sac  are  distributed 
the  nerves  of  hearing,  for  which,  in  its  vegetable-like 
life,  it  can  have  very  little  use. 


66  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

The  ear  of  a  fish  consists  of  a  small  sac,  containing 
two  or  three  chalky  masses  called  ear  bones,  placed  in 
a  chamber  adjacent  to  a  sac  containing  the  ear  fluid 
and  nerves  of  hearing.  The  fish's  ear  is  entirely  in- 
closed in  a  hollow  in  the  skull.  It  hears  by  means  of 
the  vibration  of  the  water,  which  is  communicated  to 
the  bones  of  its  head,  thence  to  the  ear  bones,  and  then 
from  these  to  the  delicate  sac  from  which  the  nerves 
of  hearing  convey  the  impression  to  the  brain. 

The  human  ear,  consisting  of  like  essentials,  is 
much  more  complicated  in  its  structure.  There  is, 
within  a  hidden  recess  in  the  skull,  a  curiously  shaped 
sac  filled  with  fluid,  and  containing  a  number  of  minute 
ear  stones.  This  sac  is  connected  by  means  of  a  chain 
of  bones  with  a  vibrating  membrane,  which  closes  the 
end  of  the  canal  connected  with  the  external  organ 
ordinarily  known  as  the  ear.  Sounds  are  produced  by 
vibrations  in  the  ear.  These  vibrations  are  gathered 
by  the  external  ear,  and  cause  vibration  of  the  mem- 
brane, which,  from  its  striking  resemblance  to  that  of 
a  drum,  is  called  the  drum  membrane.  This  vibration 
is  carried  by  the  chain  of  bones  across  the  cavity  in 
which  they  are  placed,  termed  the  drum  cavity,  to  the 
delicate  sac,  within  which  are  found  the  ear  stones  and 
the  nerves  of  hearing.  The  little  ear  stones  dance  up 
and  down  upon  the  ends  of  the  nerves,  and  produce 
sensations  which  are  carried  from  the  ear  to  the  brain. 
The  vibrations  produced  are  known  as  sound. 

The  Nose.— The  nose,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous 
features  of  the  face,  though  one  of  the  most  neglected 
organs  of  the  body,  is  useful  as  well  as  ornamental, 
and  worthy  of  at  least  a  moment's  notice.  The  primary 
office  of  the  nose  is  to  receive  air  to  supply  the  lungs. 
For  this  purpose  it  has  two  openings  in  the  face,  which 


THE   BODY   TEMPLE  67 


communicate  with  the  large  nasal  cavity,  partially 
divided  into  two  compartments  by  the  septum  of  the 
nose,  and  which  communicate  at  its  back  part  through 
a  single  opening  to  the  mouth,  and  thence  with  the  air 
l^assages  leading  to  the  lungs. 

On  either  side  of  the  nasal  cavity,  three  scroll- 
shaped  projections,  ranged  one  above  the  other,  are 
to  be  found.  The  mucous  membrane  covering  the 
uppermost  of  these  projections,  together  with  that 
which  lines  the  other  portions  of  the  roof  of  the  nasal 
cavity,  contains  the  nerves  of  smell,  by  means  of  which 
we  are  able  to  distinguish  odors.  In  civilized  human 
beings,  this  sense  is  by  no  means  as  acute  as  in  the 
lower  animals  and  in  members  of  savage  tribes.  This 
is  undoubtedly  due  to  the  neglect  to  cultivate  this  im- 
portant sense.  It  may  also  be  attributed,  in  part  at 
least,  to  the  very  general  prevalence  of  nasal  catarrh, 
which  often  results  in  partial  or  complete  destruction 
of  the  sense  of  smell. 

How  and  What  We  Taste.— The  nerves  of  taste 
are  located  in  the  tongue  and  the  back  part  of  the 
mouth.  Substances  must  be  dissolved,  to  be  tasted. 
The  tongue,  as  well  as  the  skin,  is  an  organ  of  touch. 
Indeed,  it  is  much  more  sensitive  to  touch  than  the 
skin.  Substances  which  have  an  acrid,  saline,  or  as- 
tringent flavor,  like  mustard,  pepper,  salt,  etc.,  we  do 
not  taste,  but  feel.  Many  other  substances  which  have 
a  pronounced  odor,  are  smelled  rather  than  tasted. 


SEX  IN  LIVING  FORMS 


LIFE,  in  its  great  diversity  of  forms,  has  ever  been 
a  subject  of  the  deepest  interest  to  rational  be- 
ings. Poets  have  sung  of  its  joys  and  sorrows, 
its  brilliant  phantasies  and  harsh  realities.  Philoso- 
phers have  spent  their  lives  in  vain  attempts  to  solve 
its  mysteries;  and  some  have  believed  that  life  was 
nothing  more  than  a  stupendous  farce,  a  delusion  of 
the  senses.  Moralists  have  sought  to  impress  men  with 
the  truth  that  "life  is  real,"  and  teeming  with  grave 
responsibilities.  Physiologists  have  busied  themselves 
in  observing  the  phenomena  of  life,  and  learning  there- 
from its  laws.  The  subject  is  certainly  an  interesting 
one,  and  none  could  be  more  worthy  of  the  most  care- 
ful attention. 

Living  Beings.— Man  possesses  life  in  common  with 
other  beings  almost  infinite  in  number  and  variety. 
The  hugest  beast  that  roams  the  forest  or  plows  the 
main  is  no  more  a  living  creature  than  the  smallest  in- 
sect or  microscopic  animalculum.  The  "big  tree"  of 
California,  and  the  tiny  blade  of  grass  which  waves 
at  its  foot,  are  alike  imbued  with  life.  All  nature  teems 
with  life.  The  practiced  eye  detects  multitudes  of 
living  forms  at  every  glance. 

Microscopic  Life.— The  universe  of  life  presents 
the  most  marvelous  manifestations  of  the  infinite  power 
and  wisdom  of  the  Creator  to  be  found  in  all  his  works. 
The  student  of  biology  sees  life  in  myriad  forms  which 


SEX    IN    LIVING   FORMS  69 

are  unnoticed  by  the  casual  observer.  The  microscope 
reveals  worlds  of  life  that  were  unknown  before  the 
discovery  of  this  wonderful  aid  to  human  vision, — 
whole  tribes  of  living  organisms,  each  of  which,  though 
insignificant  in  size,  possesses  organs  as  perfect  and 
as  useful  to  it,  in  its  sphere,  as  do  animals  of  greater 
magnitude. 

Under  a  powerful  magnifying  glass,  as  previously 
stated,  a  drop  of  water  from  a  stagnant  pool  is  found 
to  be  peopled  with  curious  animated  forms ;  slime  from 
a  damp  rock,  or  a  speck  of  green  scum  from  the  surface 
of  a  pond,  presents  a  museum  of  living  wonders. 
Through  this  instrument  the  student  of  nature  learns 
that  life  in  its  lowest  form  is  represented  by  a  mere 
atom  of  living  matter,  an  insignificant  speck  of  trem- 
bling jelly,  transparent  and  structureless,  having  no 
organs  of  locomotion,  yet  able  to  move  in  any  direc- 
tion; no  nerves  or  organs  of  sense,  yet  possessing  a 
high  degree  of  sensibility;  no  mouth,  teeth,  nor  organs 
of  digestion,  yet  capable  of  taking  food,  growing, 
developing,  producing  other  individuals  like  itself, 
becoming  aged,  infirm,  and  dying,— such  is  the  life 
history  of  a  living  creature  at  the  lower  extreme  of 
the  scale  of  animated  being. 

As  we  rise  higher  in  the  scale,  we  find  similar  little 
atoms  of  life  associated  together  in  a  single  individual, 
each  doing  its  proper  share  of  the  work  necessary 
to  maintain  the  life  of  the  individual  as  a  whole, 
yet  retaining,  at  the  same  time,  its  own  individual 
life. 

As  we  ascend  to  still  higher  forms,  we  find  this 
association  of  minute  living  creatures  resulting  in  the 
production  of  forms  of  increasing  complicity.  As  the 
structure  of  the  individual  becomes  more  complex,  and 


70  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

its  functions  more  varied,  the  greater  is  tlie  number  of 
separate,  yet  associated,  organisms  required  to  do  the 
work. 

In  man,  at  the  very  summit  of  the  scale  of  animate 
existence,  we  find  the  most  delicate  and  wonderfully  in- 
tricate living  mechanism  of  all.  In  him,  as  in  lower, 
intermediate  forms  of  life,  the  life  of  the  individual 
is  but  a  summary  of  the  lives  of  all  the  numberless 
minute  organisms  of  which  his  body  is  composed.  The 
individual  life  is  but  the  aggregate  life  of  all  the  mil- 
lions of  distinct  individuals  which  are  associated  to- 
gether in  the  human  organism. 

Animals  and  Vegetables,— The  first  classification 
of  living  creatures  separates  them  into  two  great  king- 
doms, animal  and  vegetable.  Although  it  is  very  easy 
to  define  the  general  characteristics  of  each  of  these 
classes,  it  is  impossible  to  fix  upon  any  single  peculiar- 
ity which  will  be  applicable  to  every  case.  Most  vege- 
table organisms  remain  stationary ;  while  some  possess 
organs  of  locomotion,  and  swim  about  in  the  water  in 
a  manner  much  resembling  the  movements  of  certain 
animals.  Most  vegetables  obtain  their  nutriment  from 
the  earth  and  the  air,  Avhile  animals  subsist  on  living 
matter.  A  few  plants  seem  to  take  organic  matter  for 
food,  some  even  catching  and  killing  small  insects. 

It  is  found  impossible  to  draw  the  precise  line  be- 
tween animals  and  vegetables,  for  the  reason  just  men- 
tioned. The  two  kingdoms  blend  so  intimately  that  in 
some  cases  it  is  impossible  to  tell  whether  a  certain 
microscopic  speck  of  life  is  an  animal  or  a  vegetable. 
But  since  these  doubtful  creatures  are  usually  so  mi- 
nute that  several  millions  of  them  can  exist  in  a  single 
drop  of  water,  it  is  seldom  of  practical  importance 
whether  they  are  animal  or  vegetable,  or  sometimes 


SEX    IN    LIVING    FOKMS  71 

one  and  sometimes  the  other,  as  they  have  been  sup- 
posed to  be  by  some  biologists. 

Protoplasm.— All  living  creatures  are  organized 
beings.  Most  possess  a  structure  and  an  organism 
more  or  less  complicated ;  but  some  of  the  lowest  forms 
are  merely  little  masses  of  transparent,  homogeneous 
jelly,  known  as  protoplasm.  Some  of  the  smallest  of 
these  are  so  minute  that  one  hundred  millions  of  them 
could  occupy  the  space  of  a  cube  one-thousandth  of  an 
inch  on  each  side;  yet  each  one  runs  its  course  of  life 
as  regularly  as  man  himself,  performing  its  proper 
functions  even  more  perfectly,  perhaps. 

Life  Force.— To  every  thinking  mind  the  question 
often  recurs.  What  makes  the  fragrant  flower  so  dif- 
ferent from  the  dead  soil  from  which  it  grows?  the 
trilling  bird  so  vastly  suj^erior  to  the  inert  atmosphere 
in  which  it  flies?  Wliat  subtle  power  paints  the  rose, 
and  tunes  the  merry  songster's  voice?  To  explain  this 
mystery,  philosophers  of  olden  time  supposed  the  ex- 
istence of  a  certain  peculiar  force,  which  is  called  life, 
or  vital  force,  or  vitality. 

This  supposition  does  nothing  more  than  furnish  a 
name  for  a  thing  unknown,  and  the  very  existence  of 
which  may  fairly  be  doubted.  In  fact,  any  attempt  to 
find  a  place  for  such  a  force,  to  understand  its  origin, 
or  harmonize  its  existence  with  that  of  other  well- 
known  forces,  is  unsuccessfuL 


7Z  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

REPRODUCTION 

Nutrition  and  reproduction  are  tlie  two  great  func- 
xions  of  life,  being  common,  not  only  to  all  animals, 
but  to  both  animals  and  plants,  to  all  classes  of  living 
creatures.  The  object  of  the  first  is  the  development 
and  maintenance  of  individual  existence;  the  second 
has  for  its  end  the  production  of  new  individuals,  or 
the  preservation  of  the  race.  Nutrition  is  a  purely 
selfish  process;  reproduction  is  purely  unselfish  in  its 
object,  though  the  human  species,  unlike  humbler 
creatures,  which  while  less  intelligent,  are  far  more 
true  to  nature,  too  often  pervert  its  functions  to  the 
most  grossly  selfish  ends. 

Reproduction  Common  to  All  Living  Things. — 
As  before  remarked,  reproduction  is  a  function  com- 
mon to  all  animals  and  to  all  plants.  Every  organized 
being  has  the  power  to  reproduce  itself,  or  to  produce, 
or  aid  in  producing,  other  individuals  like  itself.  It  is 
by  means  of  this  function  that  plants  and  animals  in- 
crease  or  multiply. 

AVhen  we  consider  the  great  diversity  of  characters 
illustrated  in  animal  and  vegetable  life,  and  the  infinite 
variety  of  conditions  and  circumstances  under  which 
organized  creatures  exist,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
modes  of  reproduction  should  also  present  great  di- 
versity, both  in  general  character  and  in  detail.  We 
shall  find  it  interesting  and  instructive  to  consider  some 
of  the  many  different  modes  of  reproduction,  or  gener- 
ation, observed  in  different  classes  of  living  beings, 
previous  to  entering  upon  the  specific  study  of  repro- 
duction in  man.  Before  doing  this,  however,  let  us 
give  brief  attention  to  a  theoretical  form  of  genera- 
tion, which  cannot  be  called  reproduction,  known  as — 


SEX   IN    LIVING    FORMS  73 

Spontaneous  Generation.— By  this  term  is  meant 
the  supposed  formation  of  living  creatures  directly 
from  dead  matter  without  the  intervention  of  other 
living  organisms.  The  theory  is,  in  substance,  an  old 
one.  The  ancients  supposed  that  the  frogs  and  other 
small  reptiles  so  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  slimy  pools 
and  stagnant  marshes,  were  generated  spontaneously 
from  the  mud  and  slime  in  which  they  lived.  This 
theory  was,  of  course,  abandoned  when  the  natural 
history  of  reptiles  became  known. 

For  several  thousand  years  the  belief  was  still  held 
that  maggots  found  in  decaying  meat  were  produced 
spontaneously;  but  it  was  discovered,  centuries  ago, 
that  maggots  are  not  formed  if  the  flesh  is  protected 
from  flies,  and  hence  must  be  the  larvas  of  a  species 
of  this  insect.  A  relic  of  the  ancient  belief  in  sponta- 
neous generation  is  still  found  in  the  supposition  that 
horse-hair  snakes,  so-called,  are  really  formed  from  the 
hairs  of  horses.  This  belief  is  quite  common,  but  science 
long  ago  exposed  its  falsity.  It  is  now  known  that  the 
horse-hair  snake  is  a  parasitic  worm,  which  spends 
part  of  its  existence  in  the  stomach  of  a  certain  species 
of  beetle.  After  beginning  its  independent  existence, 
it  frequents  moist  places,  such  as  stagnant  pools  by  the 
road-side,  watering  troughs,  etc.  '\^'Tien  the  water  dries 
up,  the  horse-hair  snake  becomes  dry  and  apparently 
lifeless,  and  shrivels  up,  so  that  it  is  not  readily  dis- 
covered. A  new  rain  moistens  the  little  creature,  and 
brings  it  into  active  life  again  so  suddenly  that  it  seems 
like  a  new  creation,  or,  according  to  the  popular  opin- 
ion, appears  to  be  converted  from  a  dead  hair  into  a 
living  snake. 

Germs.— When  the  microscope  was  discovered,  it 
revealed  a  whole  new  world  of  infinitesimal  beings. 


74  PLAIlSr    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

known  as  germs,  or  bacteria,  which  were  at  first  sup- 
posed to  be  of  spontaneous  origin ;  but  careful  scientific 
investigation  has  shown  that  even  these  mere  specks 
of  life  are  not  independent  of  parentage.  First,  M. 
Pasteur  and,  later,  Professor  Tyndall,  with  many  other 
distinguished  scientists,  demonstrated  this  fact  beyond 
all  reasonable  chance  for  question. 

One  fact  which  gave  rise  to  the  belief  in  the  sponta- 
neous origin  of  germs,  is  their  remarkable  vitality. 
These  microscopic  specks  of  life  have  been  known  to 
stand  a  temperature  of  ten  degrees  below  zero,  and 
considerably  above  the  boiling  point  of  water.  A  suf- 
ficiently high  degree  of  heat,  however,  or  long-con- 
tinued boiling,  was  proved  by  M.  Pasteur  to  be  fatal 
to  them,  and  by  this  means  the  doctrine  of  spontaneous 
generation  was  overthrown. 

It  is,  then,  an  established  law,  that  every  living  or- 
ganism originates  ivith  some  previously  existing  living 
organism  or  organisms. 

Origin  of  Life. —The  testimony  of  all  nature,  as 
almost  universally  admitted  by  scientific  men,  is  that 
life  originated  through  a  creative  act  by  the  first  great 
Cause,  who  gave  to  certain  bodies  the  requisite  ar- 
rangement or  organization  to  enable  them  to  perform 
certain  functions,  and  delegated  to  them  the  power  to 
transmit  the  same  to  other  matter,  and  thus  to  perpet- 
uate life.  The  Creator  alone  has  the  power  to  origi- 
nate life.  Man,  with  all  his  wisdom  and  attainments, 
cannot  discover  the  secret  of  organization.  He  may 
become  familiar  with  its  phenomena,  but  he  cannot 
unravel,  further,  the  mystery  of  life.  The  organiza- 
tion of  dead  matter  into  living  substance  is  carried  on 
through  the  lower  class  of  living  or  organized  bodies, 
those  known  as  vegetable  organisms,  or  plants. 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FORMS  75 

Simplest  Form  of  Generation.  —  Deep  down  be- 
neath the  waters  of  the  ocean,  covering  its  bottom  in 
certain  localities,  is  found  a  curious  slime,  which,  under 
the  microscope,  is  seen  to  be  composed  of  minute 
rounded  masses  of  gelatinous  matter,  or  protoplasm, 
mentioned  in  a  previous  chapter.  By  watching  these 
little  bodies  intently  for  a  few  minutes,  the  observer 
will  discover  that  each  is  a  living  creature,  capable  of 
moving,  growing,  and  assuming  a  variety  of  shapes. 
Continued  observation  will  reveal  the  fact  that  these 
little  creatures  multiply;  and  a  more  careful  scrutiny 
will  enable  him  to  see  Jioiv  they  increase.  Each  divides 
into  two  equal  parts  so  nearly  alike  that  they  cannot 
be  distinguished  when  apart.  In  this  case,  the  process 
of  generation  is  simply  the  production  of  two  similar 
individuals  from  one. 

Low  Forms  of  Life.  —A  small  quantity  of  slime 
taken  from  the  surface  of  a  stone  near  the  bottom  of 
an  old  well,  or  on  the  sea-side,  when  placed  under  the 
microscope,  will  sometimes  be  found  to  contain  large 
numbers  of  small,  round,  living  bodies.  Careful  watch- 
ing will  show  that  they  also  multiply  by  division;  but 
before  the  division  occurs,  two  cells  unite  to  form  one 
by  a  process  called  conjugation.  Then,  by  the  division 
of  this  cell,  instead  of  only  two  cells,  a  large  number  of 
small  cells  are  formed,  each  of  which  may  be  consid- 
ered as  a  bud  formed  upon  the  body  of  the  parent  cell, 
and  then  separated  from  it,  to  become  by  growth  an  in- 
dividual like  its  parent,  and,  like  it,  to  produce  its  kind. 
In  this  case,  we  have  new  individuals  formed  by  the 
union  of  two  individuals  which  are  to  all  appearance 
entirely  similar  m  every  particular. 

Sex.— Rising  higher  in  the  scale  of  being,  we  find 
that,  with  rare  exceptions,  reproduction  is  the  result  of 


76  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

tlie  "union  of  two  dissimilar  elements.  These  elements 
do  not,  in  liiglier  organisms,  as  in  lower  forms  of  life, 
constitute  the  individuals,  but  are  produced  by  them; 
and  being  unlike,  they  are  produced  by  special  organs, 
each  adapted  to  the  formation  of  one  kind  of  element. 
The  two  classes  of  organs  usually  exist  in  separate  indi- 
viduals, thus  giving  rise  to  distinctions  of  sex,  an  indi- 
vidual possessing  organs  which  form  one  kind  of  ele- 
ment being  called  a  male,  and  one  possessing  organs 
for  the  formation  of  the  other  kind  of  element,  a 
female.  The  sexual  differences  between  individuals 
of  the  same  species  are  not,  however,  confined  to  the 
sexual  organs.  In  most  classes  of  plants  and  animals, 
other  sexual  differences  are  very  marked.  In  some  of 
the  lower  orders  of  animals,  and  in  many  species  of 
plants,  the  male  and  female  individuals  are  so  much 
unlike  that  for  a  long  time  after  they  were  well  known, 
no  sexual  relation  was  discovered. 

In  some  species  of  plants,  as  for  example  the  pond 
scums,  there  is  apparently  no  distinction  of  sex;  and 
yet  a  union  of  two  distinct  individuals  is  necessary  for 
fecundation;  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  these 
two  individuals,  though  apparently  in  no  way  dissimi- 
lar, presenting  under  the  microscope  complete  identity 
of  appearance,  are  really  sexually  distinct,  one  being 
male  and  the  other  female. 

Hermaphrodism.— An  individual  possessing  both 
male  and  female  organs  of  reproduction,  is  called  a 
hermaphrodite.  Such  a  combination  is  very  rare  among 
higher  animals ;  but  it  is  by  no  means  uncommon  among 
plants  and  the  lower  forms  of  animal  life.  The  snail, 
the  oyster,  the  earthworm,  the  barnacle,  and  the  com- 
mon tapeworm  are  examples  of  true  hermaphrodites. 
So-called  human  hermaphrodites  are  usually  individu- 


SEX   IN    LIVING    FORMS 


als  in  whom  the  sexual  organs  are  abnormally  devel- 
oped, so  that  they  resemble  those  of  the  opposite  sex, 
though  they  really  have  but  one  sex,  which  can  usually 
be  determined  with  certainty.  Only  a  very  few  cases 
have  been  observed  in  which  both  male  and  female 
organs  were  present. 

There  was  recently  living  in  Germany  an  individual 
who  bears  the  name  of  a  woman;  but  learned  physi- 
cians have  decided  that  the  person  is  as  much  man  as 
woman,  having  the  organs  of  both  sexes.  What  is  still 
more  curious,  this  person  has  the  feelings  of  both  sexes, 
having  loved  first  a  man,  and  afterward  a  woman. 
There  have  been  observed,  also,  a  very  few  instances 
of  individuals  in  whom  the  sexual  organs  of  neither 
sex  were  present.  It  thus  appears  that  a  person  may 
be  of  both  sexes,  or  of  no  sex  at  all. 

Sex  in  Plants.  —To  one  unacquainted  with  the 
mysteries  of  plant  life  and  growth,  the  idea  of  attach- 
ing sexuality  to  plants  seems  very  extraordinary;  but 
the  botanist  recognizes  the  fact  that  the  distinctions  of 
sex  are  as  clearly  maintained  in  the  vegetable  as  in  the 
animal  kingdom.  The  sexual  organs  of  the  higher 
orders  of  plants  are  flowers.  That  part  of  the  flower 
which  produces  seeds,  answers  to  the  female;  another 
part,  which  is  incapable  of  forming  seeds,  answers  to' 
the  male.  The  fertile  and  the  sterile  flowers  are  some- 
times produced  on  separate  plants.  Very  frequently, 
they  are  produced  upon  separate  parts  of  the  same 
plant,  as  in  the  oak,  walnut,  and  many  other  forest 
trees  and  Indian  corn.  In  the  latter  plant,  so  familiar 
to  every  one,  the  '' tassel"  contains  the  male  flowers, 
and  the  part  known  as  the  *'silk,"  with  the  portion  to 
which  it  is  attached,— which  becomes  the  ear,— the  fe- 
male, or  fertile  flowers.    In  a  large  number  of  species, 


78  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

the  male  and  female  organs  are  combined  in  a  single 
flower,  making  a  true  hermaphrodite. 

Sex  in  Animals.— As  previously  remarked,  individ- 
uals of  opposite  sex  usually  differ  much  more  than  in 
the  character  of  their  sexual  organs.  Among  higher 
animals,  the  male  is  usually  larger,  stronger,  and  of 
coarser  structure  than  the  female.  The  same  contrast 
is  observed  in  their  mental  characters.  With  lower 
animals,  especially  insects,  the  opposite  is  often  ob- 
served. The  female  spider  is  many  times  larger  than 
the  male.  The  male  ant  is  small  in  size  when  compared 
with  the  female.  Nevertheless,  in  all  classes  of  animals, 
the  difference  in  the  structure  and  the  functions  of  the 
sexual  organs  is  the  chief  distinguishing  characteris- 
tic. These  differences  are  not  so  great,  however,  as 
they  might  at  first  appear.  The  male  and  female  or- 
gans of  reproduction  in  man  and  other  animals,  which 
seem  so  dissimilar,  when  studied  in  the  light  shed  upon 
this  subject  by  the  science  of  embryology,  are  found 
to  be  wonderfully  alike  in  structure,  differing  far  more 
in  appearance  than  in  reality,  and  being  little  more 
than  modifications  of  one  general  plan.  Every  organ 
to  be  found  in  the  one  sex  has  an  analogue  in  the  other 
which  is  complete  in  every  particular,  corresponding 
in  function,  in  structure,  and  usually  in  position. 

Other  Sexual  Differences.— In  this  country  there 
is  between  three  and  four  inches'  difference  in  height, 
and  about  twenty  pounds'  diiference  in  weight  between 
the  average  man  and  the  average  woman,  the  average 
man  being  about  five  feet,  eight  inches  in  height,  and 
weighing  one  hundred  and  forty-five  pounds ;  while  the 
average  woman  is  five  feet,  four  and  one-half  inches 
in  height,  and  weighs  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
pounds.    The  relation  of  the  sexes  in  height  and  weight 


J,        Corn   Tcissel 

(Male   riomer 


The  Oak 


The  Wa/nuT. 


'S.lk 

Femah  Flower.) 


Eartk    Worm 


Barnacles  . 


Both  Sexes  in  One  Plant 


Both  Sexes  in  One  Cfeatttre 


SEX  IN  NATURE 


79 


80 


HEALTH   AND   BEAUTY 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FORMS  81 

varies  in  degree  in  different  countries,  but  is  never 
changed.  The  average  height  and  weight  of  American 
men  and  women  is  considerably  above  that  of  the  aver- 
age human  being. 

Men  and  Women  Differ  in  Form.— The  differences 
in  form  are  so  marked  that  it  is  possible  for  the  skilled 
anatomist  to  determine  the  sex  of  a  human  being  who 
has  been  dead  for  ages,  by  an  examination  of  the  skele- 
ton alone.  In  man,  the  shoulders  are  broad,  the  hips 
narrow,  and  the  limbs  nearly  straight  with  the  body. 
In  woman,  the  shoulders  are  narrow  and  usually 
rounded,  and  set  farther  back,  the  collar-bone  being 
longer  and  less  curved,  giving  the  chest  greater  promi- 
nence ;  while  the  hips  are  broad. 

The  consequence  of  these  differences  is  that  woman 
is  generally  less  graceful  and  naturally  less  skilful  in 
the  use  of  the  extremities  than  man,  and  hence  less 
fitted  for  athletic  sports  and  feats  requiring  great  dex- 
terity. A  girl  throws  a  stone  awkwardly,  less  from 
want  of  practice  than  from  a  natural  peculiarity  of 
physical  structure.  A  woman  walks  less  gracefully 
than  a  man,  owing  to  the  greater  relative  breadth  of 
her  hips,  requiring  a  motion  of  the  body  together  with 
that  of  the  limbs.  In  consequence  of  this  peculiarity, 
a  woman  is  less  fitted  for  walking  long  distances. 

The  Male  and  the  Female  Brain.  —But  there  are 
other  important  physical  differences  to  which  we  must 
call  attention.  As  previously  stated,  man  possesses  a 
larger  brain  than  woman,  but  woman  possibly  makes 
up  the  deficiency  in  size  by  superior  quality.  The 
feminine  brain  differs  from  the  masculine  in  other  par- 
ticulars so  marked  that  one  who  has  given  the  subject 
attention  can  determine  with  perfect  ease  the  probable 
sex  of  the  owner  of  almost  any  skull  which  might  be 


82  fijAIN  facts  for  old  and  young 

presented  to  him.  This  difference  in  the  conformation 
of  the  skull  is  undoubtedly  due  to  a  difference  in  mental 
character,  which,  in  turn,  depends  upon  a  difference 
in  cerebral  development. 

There  has  been  much  discussion  as  to  which  sex 
possesses  the  stronger  brain.  The  fact  that  the  brain 
of  the  average  woman  weighs  but  forty-two  ounces, 
while  that  of  the  average  man  weighs  forty-nine 
ounces,  has  been  stated  as  evidence  that  there  is  a  cor- 
responding difference  in  mental  capacity.  Those  who 
advocate  this  theory  seem  to  have  lost  sight  of  the  fact 
that  size  alone  is  by  no  means  a  measure  of  power. 
The  elephant  possesses  a  much  larger  brain  than  the 
largest  human  brain  ever  weighed,  and  yet  the  intelli- 
gence of  the  elephant,  remarkable  as  it  is  for  a  beast, 
is  infinitely  inferior  to  that  of  man.  Quality  as  well 
as  quantity  must  be  taken  into  consideration,  and  it 
must  be  shown  that  the  physical  organization  of  man 
is  finer  in  quality  than  that  of  woman,  before  the  claim 
of  superiority  can  be  established.  It  is  certainly  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  that  the  female  brain,  as  well  as 
the  female  bones  and  muscles,  is  of  a  finer  texture  and 
more  delicate  organization,  and  hence  is  possessed  of 
greater  intelligence  than  the  male  brain  of  equal  size. 

But  the  most  remarkable  fact  of  all,  and  one  which 
seems  to  have  escaped  the  attention  of  those  who  have 
written  upon  this  subject,  is  that  the  comparison  of  the 
male  and  female  brains  has  been  made  without  regard 
to  the  relative  average  sizes  of  male  and  female  bodies. 
The  average  man  is  larger  than  the  average  woman; 
he  has  larger  bones,  larger  muscles,  and  in  all  respects 
a  much  larger  development;  while  the  average  woman 
possesses  small  bones  and  muscles,  though  having  a 
larger  proportion  of  adipose  tissue.    But  the  average 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FORMS  83 

woman's  brain,  while  smaller  than  that  of  the  average 
man,  is  really  larger  in  proportion  to  her  body. 

Thus  it  appears  that  in  an  argmnent  based  upon 
brain  work  irrespective  of  quality,  woman  has  the  ad- 
vantage ;  and  if  it  be  granted  that  to  this  superior  rela- 
tive size  of  brain  is  added  superior  quality,  the  weight 
of  argument  predominates  in  favor  of  superior  mental 
capacity  in  woman  rather  than  in  man. 

From  the  author's  standpoint,  however,  all  these 
arguments  are  unnecessary.  That  the  brain  of  the 
average  woman  differs  in  quality  from  the  brain  of  the 
average  man,  is  a  fact  too  patent  to  require  argument 
for  its  support.  Each  class  of  minds  has  its  sphere,  and 
is  in  its  sphere  superior.  Men  are  undoubtedly  best 
fitted  for  their  sphere  in  life,  and  women  for  theirs; 
and  yet  it  is  undoubtedly  true  that  among  women  there 
are  to  be  found  numerous  exceptions,  some  seeming  to 
be  adapted  for  muscular  rather  than  feminine  pursuits, 
and  others  being  vastly  better  fitted  for  some  of  the 
vocations  in  life  which  are  monopolized  by  men  to  a 
great  extent,  than  are  some  men. 

Vital  Organs  of  Manand  Woman.— The  anatomist 
also  observes  an  interesting  difference  in  the  size  of 
the  various  vital  organs.  For  example,  while  a  woman 
has  a  heart  proportionallj^  smaller  than  the  same  organ 
in  man,  she  has  a  larger  liver,  larger  kidneys,  and 
larger  bowels  and  spleen.  Thus,  while  less  fitted  for 
severe  physical  exertion,  she  has  superior  digestive  and 
excretory  functions. 

Woman  Less  Muscular,  More  Enduring.— This 
peculiarity  of  structure  is  perfectly  harmonious  with 
the  fact  which  experience  has  established  so  often  as 
to  make  the  matter  no  longer  a  question,  that  woman 
is  less  fitted  for  severe  muscular  exertion  than  man, 


84  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

but  possesses  in  a  superior  degree  the  quality  known 
as  endurance.  With  a  less  robust  frame,  a  more  deli- 
cately organized  constitution,  she  will  endure  for 
months  what  would  kill  a  robust  man  in  as  many  weeks. 
More  perfect  elimination  of  the  wastes  of  the  body 
secures  a  higher  grade  of  vitality.  On  no  other  hy- 
pothesis could  we  account  for  the  marvelous  endurance 
of  the  feminine  part  of  the  civilized  portion  of  the 
human  race,  ground  down  under  the  heel  of  fashion 
for  ages,  ''stayed,"  "corseted,"  "laced,"  and  thereby 
distorted  and  deformed  in  a  manner  that  would  be 
fatal  to  almost  any  member  of  the  masculine  sex. 

A  Pathological  Difference.— Nearly  all  physiolo- 
gists mention  another  particular  in  which  woman  dif- 
fers materially  from  man ;  viz.,  in  naturally  employing, 
in  respiration,  chiefly  the  upper  part  of  the  lungs,  while 
man  breathes  chiefly  with  the  lower  part  of  the  lungs. 
For  several  years,  we  have  carefully  studied  this  ques- 
tion, and  we  have  been  unable  to  find  any  physiolog- 
ical or  anatomical  reason  sufficient  to  account  for  this 
fact,  if  it  be  such. 

Why  a  Woman  Does  Not  Breathe  Like  a  Man.— 
It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  most  women  do  breathe 
almost  exclusively  with  the  upper  part  of  the  chest; 
but  whether  this  is  a  natural  peculiarity,  or  an  acquired, 
unnatural  and  depraved  one,  is  a  question  which  we 
are  decidedly  inclined  to  answer  in  harmony  with  the 
latter  supposition,  basing  our  conclusion  on  the  fol- 
lowing undeniable  facts: 

1.  In  childhood,  and  until  about  the  age  of  puberty, 
respiration  in  the  boy  and  the  girl  is  exactly  the  same. 

2.  Although  there  is  a  change  in  the  mode  of  res- 
piration in  most  females,  usually  soon  after  the  period 
of  puberty,  marked  by  increased  intercostal  respiration 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FOKMS  85 

and  diminished  abdominal  or  deep  respiration,  tliis 
change  can  be  accounted  for  on  other  than  physiolog- 
ical grounds. 

3.  We  believe  the  cause  of  this  modification  of  res- 
piration is  the  change  in  dress  which  is  usually  made 
about  that  time.  The  young  girl  is  now  becoming  a 
woman,  and  must  acquire  the  art  of  lacing,  wearing  a 
corset,  "  stays,"  and  sundry  other  contrivances  which 
will  aid  in  producing  a  ''fine  form,"  by  distorting  and 
destroying  all  natural  grace  and  beauty  in  the  "form 
divine. ' ' 

4.  We  have  met  a  number  of  ladies  whose  good  for- 
tune  and  good  sense  had  delivered  them  from  the  dis- 
torting influence  of  corset-wearing  and  tight-lacing, 
and  we  have  invariably  observed  that  they  are  capable 
of  as  deep  respiration  as  men,  and  practice  it  naturally. 

We  are  thoroughly  convinced  that  this  so-called 
physiological  difference  between  man  and  woman  is 
really  a  pathological  rather  than  a  natural  difference, 
and  is  due  to  the  evils  of  fashionable  dress,  which  we 
have  exposed  at  some  length  in  another  work  exclu- 
sively devoted  to  that  subject.*  In  short,  we  believe 
that  the  only  reason  why  women  do  not,  under  ordi- 
nary circumstances,  breathe  as  do  men,  is  simply  he- 
cause  they  cannot  breathe  naturally., 

The  Reproductive  Elements.— As  has  been  pre- 
viously observed,  in  all  except  the  very  lowest  forms 
of  life,  two  elements  are  necessary  to  the  production 
of  a  new  individual,  or  a  reproduction  of  the  species, 
—a  male  element  and  a  female  element.  The  special 
organs  by  means  of  which  these  elements  are  produced, 
brought  together,  and  developed  into  the  new  individ- 
ual in  a  more  or  less  perfect  state,  are  termed  sexual 
organs.     As  an  introduction  to  the  specific  study  of 

6 


86  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

the  sexual  organs  in  the  human  species,  let  us  briefly 
consider  the— 

Sexual  Organs  of  Plants. — Flowers  are  the  sexual 
organs  of  plants.  Nothing  is  more  interesting  in  the 
natural  world  than  the  wonderful  beauty,  diversity,  and 
perfect  adaptability  to  various  conditions  and  func- 
tions, which  we  see  in  the  sexual  parts  of  plants.  An 
exceedingly  interesting  line  of  study,  which  has  occu- 
pied the  attention  of  many  naturalists,  is  the  wonder- 
ful perfection  displayed  in  the  adaptability  of  the  male 
and  female  parts  of  plants  to  each  other.  Without 
burdening  the  reader  with  unnecessary  technicalities 
of  detail,  we  will  briefly  notice  the  principal  parts  of 
vegetable  sexual  organs  as  illustrated  in  flowers. 

Complete  flowers  are  m.ade  up  of  four  parts,  two  of 
which,  the  stamen  and  pistil,  are  essential,  while  the 
other  two,  the  calyx  and  corolla,  are  accessory. 

The  calyx  is  that  part  which  surrounds  the  flower 
at  its  outer  and  lower  part.  It  varies  greatly  in  form 
and  color,  but  is  most  frequently  of  a  green  or  green- 
ish color. 

Just  within  the  calyx  is  the  corolla,  which  usually 
forms  the  most  attractive,  show^^  and  beautiful  part 
of  the  flower.  The  beautifully  colored  petals  of  the 
rose,  geranium,  dahlia  and  other  similar  flowers  form 
their  corollas. 

Vegetable  Husbands.— Within  the  cup  formed  by 
the  calyx  and  corollas  are  placed  the  stamen  and  pistils 
of  the  flower,  the  first  being  the  male  organs  proper, 
and  the  second  the  female  organs  of  the  flower. 

The  stamen  is  composed  of  a  stem,  or  filament,  at 
the  summit  of  which  are  placed  two  little  sacs,  called 
the  anther,  containing  a  fine,  microscopic  dust,  the 
pollen,  which  contains  the  male  reproductive  element 


c 


00 


Spermatoz  oa 


Male  ^exuol  (j/and 

Vertico/    Secfitu  . 


femofe  3ejcoo/  G/oncf 

Transferie  Secrian 


C?V 


^ 


ANIMAL   EMBRYOS 


SEX   IN   LIVING   FOEMS  89 

of  the  flower.  This  part  of  the  plant  corresponds  to 
the  male  organ  of  reproduction  in  animals.  A  stamen 
has  been  called,  not  inaptly,  a  vegetable  husband. 
Some  flowers  have  many  stamens,  or  vegetable  hus- 
bands, which  reminds  us  of  the  custom  in  Thibet  and 
some  other  Eastern  countries  which  allows  a  woman 
to  have  several  husbands. 

Polygamous  Flowers.— The  great  naturalist,  Lin- 
naeus, whose  name  was  immortalized  by  his  careful 
study  and  classification  of  organized  life,  made  the 
number  of  stamens  possessed  by  various  flowers  the 
basis  of  a  systematic  classification. 

For  example,  a  flower  having  but  one  stamen  was 
classed  as  monandria,  which  means,  literally,  one  hus- 
band; one  having  two  stamens  was  classified  as  dian- 
dria;  flowers  having  a  large  number  of  male  organs 
were  termed  polyandria,  or  many  husbands. 

The  Female  Organs  of  Flowers.— The  pistil  occu- 
pies the  very  center  of  the  flower.  It  produces  and  con- 
tains in  a  cell,  the  female  element,  termed  the  ovule. 
It  is  surmounted  by  the  style  and  the  stigma. 

A  series  of  plants  in  which  the  sexual  organs  are 
not  visible  to  the  eye  are  called  cryptogamia,  which 
means,  literally,  hidden  marriages. 

As  we  proceed  to  study  the  anatomy  of  the  human 
sexual  apparatus,  we  shall  be  constantly  struck  with 
the  remarkable  correspondence  between  animals  and 
vegetables  in  the  structure  and  functions  of  the  sexual 
apparatus. 

Sexual  Organs  of  Animals.— The  male  reproduc- 
tive element  is  called  spermatozoon,  or  zoosperm.  The 
female  element  is  called  an  ovum,  literally,  an  egg. 

The  Spermatozoon.— The  male  reproductive  ele- 
ment of  animals  is  formed  by  an  organ  called  the  testis, 


90  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

or  testicle,  of  wliicli  eacli  male  possesses  two.  They 
are  elastic,  glandular  bodies,  and  are  formed  within 
the  cavity  of  the  abdomen,  near  the  kidneys,  but  usually 
pass  out  of  the  abdominal  cavity,  and  descend  to  their 
permanent  position  before  birth.  The  opening  in  the 
abdominal  wall  is  usually  comi^letely  closed  in  a  short 
time;  but  occasionally  it  remains  open,  giving  rise  to 
hernia,  an  accident  in  which  a  loop  of  intestine  fol- 
lows the  testicle  down  into  the  scrotum,  either  com- 
pletely or  partially.  In  a  few  animals,  as  in  the  por- 
cupine, the  opening  is  never  fully  closed,  and  the  testis 
remains  in  the  cavity  of  the  body  most  of  the  time, 
passing  out  only  at  certain  periods.  There  are  occa- 
sional cases  of  human  beings  in  which  the  testes  have 
never  descended  from  their  place  in  the  abdominal 
cavity,  giving  the  individuals  the  appearance  of 
eunuchs. 

When  the  testicles  are  thus  retained,  they  are  usu- 
ally imperfectly  developed,  and  consequently  the  per- 
son is  likely  to  be  sterile.  This  is  not  always  the  case, 
however,  and  hence  it  occurs  that  men  who  appar- 
ently have  no  testicles,  become  the  fathers  of  children. 

In  the  whale,  the  elephant,  and  the  seal,  the  testicles 
remain  permanently  within  the  abdominal  cavity, 
though  in  most  animals  they  are  supported  outside  the 
body  in  a  sac,  as  in  man. 

The  left  testicle  is  sometimes  a  little  smaller  than 
the  right,  and  commonly  hangs  a  little  lower.  The 
testicles  are  connected  with  the  urinary  passage  by 
means  of  two  ducts,  which  terminate  near  the  base  of 
the  bladder. 

Spermatozoa.— A  single  spermatozoon  somewhat 
resembles  a  tadi3ole  in  appearance,  having,  however, 
a  much  longer  tail  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  body. 


SEX    IN  LIVING    FORMS  91 

Human  spermatozoa  are  about  one-six-liundredth 
of  an  inch  in  length.  Those  of  reptiles  are  very  much 
larger.  One  of  the  remarkable  features  of  these  mi- 
nute elements  is  their  peculiar  movements.  While 
alive,  the  filamentous  tail  is  in  constant  action  in  a 
manner  strongly  resembling  the  movements  of  the  cau- 
dal appendage  of  a  tadpole.  This  wonderful  property 
led  the  earlier  observers  to  believe  that  they  were  true 
animalcula.  But  they  are  not  to  be  regarded  as  such, 
though  one  can  scarcely  make  himself  believe  other- 
wise while  watching  their  lively  evolutions,  and  ap- 
parently volitionary  movements  from  one  point  to 
another. 

Spermatozoa  originate  in  the  testis  as  cells,  which 
are  filled  with  granules.  After  a  time,  each  granule 
acquires  a  long  appendage,  and  then  the  cell  has  be- 
come converted  into  a  bundle  of  small  zoosperms. 
Development  still  continues,  until  finally  the  thin  pel- 
licle on  the  outside  of  the  bundle  is  ruptured,  thus  lib- 
erating the  spermatozoa,  which  speedily  complete  their 
full  development.  The  spermatozoon  is  pure  proto^ 
plasm,  which  is  the  basis  of  all  life,  and  its  power  of 
spontaneous  motion  is  due  to  this  fact. 

In  man,  the  formation  of  spermatozoa  continues 
with  greater  or  less  rapidity  from  puberty  to  old  age, 
though  at  the  two  extremes  of  existence  they  are  im- 
perfectly developed.  When  not  discharged  from  the 
body,  they  are  said  to  be  absorbed. 

It  is  asserted  by  good  authorities  that  the  repro- 
ductive element  in  man  is  not  sufficiently  developed  to 
be  really  fit  for  the  reproduction  of  the  species  before 
the  age  of  twenty-four  or  twenty-five.  After  the  age 
of  fifty,  this  element  deteriorates  in  quality,  and  is 
again  unfitted  for  vigorous  procreation. 


92  rLAll-r    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 


The  fully  developed  zoosperms  are  suspended  in  a 
transparent,  gelatinous  fluid,  which,  mingled  with  the 
secretion  of  the  prostate  gland  and  other  fluids  which 
it  meets  during  its  expulsion  from  the  body,  constitutes 
the  semen. 

The  Ovum.— The  female  element  of  generation,  the 
ovum,  is  produced  by  an  organ  called  the  ovary,  of 
which  there  are  two  in  each  individual.  In  size  and 
form,  the  ovary  closely  resembles  the  testicle.  Like 
the  latter  organ,  also,  it  is  formed  within  the  body  early 
in  the  process  of  development;  but  instead  of  passing 
outward  and  downward,  as  does  the  testicle,  it  remains 
within  the  abdominal  cavity,  suspended  in  place  by  lig- 
aments. It  is  connected  with  a  duct,  which  receives  the 
ovum  as  it  is  discharged,  and  conveys  it  to  the  uterus. 

The  human  ovum  varies  in  size  from  one  two  hun- 
dred and  fortieth  to  one  one  hundred  and  twentieth 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  consists  of  a  single  cell. 

Ovulation.— Ova  are  not  formed  in  such  large 
numbers  as  zoosperms.  As  a  general  rule,  in  the 
human  female,  a  single  ovum  is  developed  and  dis- 
charged once  in  about  four  weeks,  during  the  period 
of  sexual  activity.  This  view  is  disputed  by  some 
physiologists,  who  claim  that  ovules  are  constantly  be- 
ing formed  and  thrown  off,  not  only  during  that  period 
of  a  woman's  life  during  which  child-bearing  occurs, 
but  prior  and  subsequent  to  the  child-bearing  period. 
The  development  of  the  ovaries  is  symmetrical  in  all 
the  higher  classes  of  animals,  with  the  exception  of 
birds,  in  whom  the  right  ovary  is  usually  atrophied  or 
undeveloped,  allowing  room  for  the  egg  produced  by 
this  class  of  the  animal  kingdom. 

Fecundation.— It  is  often  asked,  and  the  question 
has  elicited  some  discussion,  Which  is  the  principal 


SEX    IN    LIVING   FOEMS  93 


reproductive  element,  the  zoosj)erm  or  the  ovum?  The 
ancients  supposed  the  male  element  to  be  the  essential 
element,  being  simply  nourished  and  developed  by  the 
female ;  but  modern  research  in  biological  science  does 
not  sustain  this  view.  Probably  neither  one  enjoys 
special  pre-eminence;  for  neither  can  undergo  com- 
plete development  without  the  other.  In  very  rare 
cases,  the  ovum  has  been  observed  to  undergo  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  development  of  itself;  but  a  perfect 
individual  can  be  produced  only  by  the  union  of  the  two 
kinds  of  elements,— a  process  known  as  fecundation. 

The  fact  that  the  spermatozoa  are  swallowed  up 
and  lost  in  the  ovule,  would  rather  indicate  that  the 
spermatozoa  are  inferior  in  physiological  importance 
to  the  ovule,  and  that  their  chief  action  is  to  stimulate 
the  ovule  to  active  growth  and  complete  development. 

The  instant  the  union  between  the  ovum  and  sper- 
matozoa occurs,  the  life  of  a  new  individual  begins.  Ail 
the  changes  which  result  between  that  moment  and  the 
birth  of  the  individual  are  those  of  development  only. 
Indeed,  the  same  existence  continues  from  the  instant 
of  the  union  of  the  two  elements,  not  only  until  birth, 
but  through  growth,  the  attainment  of  maturity,  the 
decline  of  life,  and  even  until  death. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  the  different  methods 
by  which  fecundation  is  effected,  in  both  plants  and 
animals ;  for  this  is  a  process  common  to  both. 

Fecundation  in  Flowers.— The  great  naturalist, 
Linnaeus,  was  the  first  to  explain  the  reproductive  proc- 
ess in  plants.  He  tells  us  that  ''the  flower  forms  the 
theater  of  their  amours;  the  calyx  is  to  be  considered 
as  the  nuptial  bed;  the  corolla  constitutes  the  cur- 
tains ;  the  anthers  are  the  testes ;  the  pollen,  the  fecun- 
dating fluid ;  the  stigma  of  the  pistil,  the  external  gen- 


94  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

ital  aperture;  the  style,  the  vagina,  or  the  conductor 
of  the  prolific  seed ;  the  ovary  of  the  plant,  the  womb ; 
the  reciprocal  action  of  the  stamens  on  the  pistil,  the 
accessory  process  of  fecundation. 

Thus  marvelous  is  the  analogy  between  the  repro- 
ductive organs  and  their  functions  in  plants  and  ani- 
mals. Through  this  one  vital  process  we  may  trace  a 
close  relation  between  all  the  forms  of  life,  from  the 
humblest  j)lant,  or  even  the  mere  sjoecks  of  life  which 
form  the  green  scum  upon  a  stagnant  pool,  to  man, 
the  masterpiece  of  creation,  the  highest  of  all  animate 
creatures.  In  all  the  realm  of  nature  there  can  be 
found  no  more  remarkable  evidence  of  the  infinite  skill 
and  wisdom  of  the  Creator  of  all  things. 

In  many  instances,  the  action  of  plants  seems  almost 
to  be  prompted  by  intelligence.  At  the  proper  momeni, 
the  corolla  contracts  in  such  a  way  as  to  bring  the  sta- 
mens nearer  to  the  stigma,  or  in  contact  with  it,  so  as 
to  insure  fecundation.  In  some  aquatic  plants,  the 
flowers  elevate  themselves  above  the  surface  of  the 
water  while  the  process  of  fecundation  is  effected,  sub- 
merging themselves  again  immediately  afterward. 

Other  very  curious  changes  occur  in  flowers  of  dif- 
ferent species  during  the  reproductive  act.  The  stigma 
is  observed  to  become  moistened,  and  even  to  become 
distinctly  odorous.  Often,  too,  it  becomes  intensely 
congested  with  the  juices  of  the  plant,  and  sometimes 
even  acquires  an  uncommon  and  most  remarkable  de- 
gree of  contractility.  This  is  the  case  with  the  stigma 
of  the  tulip  and  one  variety  of  sensitive  plant,  and 
in  these  plants  it  is  observed  to  occur  not  only  after 
the  application  of  the  pollen  to  the  stigma,  but  when 
excited  by  any  other  means  of  stimulation.  The  flowers 
of  some  plants,  during  and  after  fecundation,  also  show 


.vn- 


(Fefnale)  ( 


Strawberries. 


/n^/. 


0/7  . 


\Nillo\ 


PLANT  MATING 


95 


<5tro  wierri/ 


{Mo/e) 


(.Female) 


The   Marri'oae  Priesrs  of  Flowers 


Spawn 


^?f* 


96 


SEX  IN  LOWER  FORMS  OF  LIFE 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FORMS  97 

an  increase  of  heat,  in  some  cases  so  marked  as  to  be 
readily  detected  with  the  thermometer.  This  is  said 
to  be  especially  the  case  with  the  arum  of  Italy. 

In  some  plants  in  which  the  pistil  is  longer  than 
the  stamens,  thus  elevating  the  stigma  above  the  an- 
thers, the  female  organ  is  often  observed  to  bend  over 
and  depress  itself,  so  as  to  come  within  reach  of  the 
anthers. 

In  most  instances,  the  fecundation  of  flowers  is 
chiefly  effected  through  a  purely  mechanical  process, 
though  in  these  cases,  also,  we  see  a  wonderful  adapta- 
tion of  parts  to  conditions. 

Natural  Adaptations.— When  the  male  and  female 
parts  of  flowers  are  situated  on  different  plants,  als  in 
the  case  of  the  willow,  the  poplar,  the  melon  vine,  and 
many  other  species,  the  pollen  of  the  male  flower  is 
wafted  by  the  wind  or  a  gentle  breeze  to  the  stigma  of 
the  female  flower,  which  will  usually  be  found  at  no  very 
great  distance,  although  fertilization  may  take  place 
in  this  way  at  very  considerable  distances.  Bees,  moths, 
and  many  other  species  of  insects  serve  a  very  impor- 
tant purpose  in  this  work,  transporting  the  fertilizing 
dust  upon  their  wings,  antennae,  sucking  tubes  and  feet. 
Small  birds,  and  even  the  humble  snail,  which  would 
scarcely  be  credited  with  any  useful  function,  are  also 
very  serviceable  in  the  same  direction.  The  part  per- 
formed by  insects  in  the  reproductive  process  of  many 
plants  is  so  great  that  they  have  been  very  poetically 
termed  "the  marriage  priests  of  flowers." 

Nature  provides  for  thorough  fecundation  in  these 
cases,  by  placing  the  plants  which  bear  the  male  and 
the  female  flowers  near  each  other.  This  fact  accounts 
for  the  unproductiveness  of  certain  varieties  of  straw- 
berries, unless  mixed  with  plants  of  some  other  vari- 


98  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

ety,  it  being  well  known  to  nurserymen  that  some 
varieties  produce  the  female  parts  of  flowers  almost 
exclusively. 

Curious  Modes  of  Fecundation  in  Animals.— The 
modes  by  which  fecundation  is  effected  in  animals  are 
still  more  various  and  wonderful  than  in  plants.  In 
some  of  the  lower  animals,  as  in  most  fish  and  reptiles, 
both  elements  are  discharged  from  the  bodies  of  the 
parents  before  coming  in  contact,  there  being  no  con- 
tact of  the  two  individuals.  In  this  class  of  animals 
the  process  is  almost  wholly  analogous  to  fecundation 
in  those  plants  in  which  the  male  and  female  flowers 
are  on  different  plants  or  on  different  parts  of  the  same 
plant.  In  the  female  fish,  a  larger  number  of  ova  are 
developed  at  a  certain  season  of  the  year,  known  as  the 
spawning  season.  Sometimes  the  number  reaches 
many  thousands.  At  the  same  time,  the  testicles  of  the 
male  fish,  which  are  contained  within  the  abdominal 
cavity,  become  distended  with  developed  zoosperms. 
When  the  female  seeks  a  place  to  deposit  her  eggs,  the 
male  closely  follows;  and  as  she  drops  them  upon  the 
gravelly  bottom,  he  discharges  upon  them  the  zoo- 
sperms,  by  which  they  are  fecundated.  According  to 
the  testimony  of  an  eye-witness,  the  waters  of  the  North 
Sea  are  in  some  places  turbid  with  the  eggs  of  codfish 
during  the  spawning  season. 

The  process  is  analagous  in  some  species  of  frogs. 
Wlien  the  female  is  about  to  deposit  her  eggs,  the  male 
mounts  upon  her  back,  and  rides  about  until  the  eggs 
are'all  deposited,  discharging  upon  them  the  fertilizing 
spermatozoa  as  they  are  laid  by  the  female. 

The  male  frog  is  enabled  to  maintain  its  hold  during 
the  long  period  occupied  by  the  female  in  laying  eggs, 
by  means  of  an  extra  development  upon  the  first  toe 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FOKMS  "        99 

of  each  forefoot,  which  occurs  at  this  period.  At  the 
end  of  the  breeding  season,  these  temporary  thumbs, 
being  no  longer  needed,  disappear. 

In  some  species  in  which  internal  impregnation 
occurs,  there  is  no  contact  between  the  species,  but  by 
some  means  not  yet  understood,  the  spermatozoa  dis- 
charged by  the  male  find  their  way  into  the  internal 
passages  of  the  female,  where  the  ovules  are  impreg- 
nated. 

In  serpents,  fecundation  occurs  by  mere  contact  of 
the  sexual  organs.  In  snails,  which  have  already  been 
mentioned  as  hermaphrodite  animals,  each  individual 
possessing  in  a  perfectly  developed  state  both  male 
and  female  organs,  internal  fecundation  occurs  after 
a  very  curious  fashion,  thus  described  by  the  eminent 
naturalist,  Prof.  T.  R.  Jones,  F.  R.  S.,  of  London: 

''The  manner  in  which  they  copulate  is  not  a  little 
curious,  their  union  being  accompanied  by  preparatory 
blandishments  of  a  very  extraordinary  kind,  that  to  a 
sjDectator  would  seem  rather  like  a  combat  between 
mortal  foes  than  the  tender  advances  of  two  lovers. 
After  sundry  caresses  between  the  two  parties,  dur- 
ing which  they  exhibit  an  animation  quite  foreign  to 
them  at  other  times,  one  of  the  snails  unfolds  from  the 
right  side  of  its  neck,  where  the  generative  orifice  is 
situated,  a  wide  sacculus,  which,  by  becoming  everted, 
displays  a  sharp,  dagger-like  spiculum,  or  dart,  at- 
tached to  its  walls.  Having  bared  this  singular 
weapon,  it  endeavors,  if  possible,  to  strike  it  into  some 
exposed  part  of  the  body  of  its  paramour,  who,  on  the 
other  hand,  uses  every  precaution  to  avoid  the  blow, 
by  speedily  retreating  into  its  shell.  But,  at  length, 
having  received  the  love-inspiring  wound,  the  smitten 
snail  prepares  to  retaliate,   and  in  turn  uses  every 


100  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD  AND    YOUNG 

effort  to  puncture  its  assailant  in  a  similar  manner. 
The  darts  are  generally  broken  off  in  this  encounter, 
and  either  fall  to  the  ground,  or  remain  fixed  in  the 
wounds  which  they  have  inflicted.  After  these  pre- 
paratory stimulations,  the  snails  proceed  to  more  ef- 
fective advances.  The  sac  of  the  dart  is  withdrawn 
into  the  body,  and  another  sacculus  is  by  a  like  proc- 
ess protruded  from  the  common  generative  aperture. 
Upon  the  last-named  organ,  two  orifices  are  seen,  one 
of  which  leads  to  the  female  generative  system,  while 
from  the  other  a  long  and  whip-like  penis  is  slowly 
unfolded,  being  gradually  everted  like  the  finger  of  a 
glove,  until  it  attains  the  length  of  an  inch  or  more. 
Then  each  of  the  two  snails  impregnates  its  partner, 
and  is  itself  impregnated  at  the  same  time." 

In  the  oyster,  another  hermaphrodite,  self-fecun- 
dation occurs.  In  the  argonaut,  a  species  of  cuttle-fish, 
fecundation  is  effected  in  a  most  extraordinary  manner. 
The  male,  which  is  smaller  than  the  female,  has  upon 
the  left  side  of  its  body  a  little  sac,  in  which  grows  a 
coiled-up,  worm-like  arm  covered  with  suckers.  This 
arm  is  really  a  sac,  which  communicates  with  the  tes- 
tes, and  contains  spermatozoa.  On  reaching  full  devel- 
opment, and  becoming  filled  with  spermatozoa,  this 
curious  arm  detaches  itself  from  the  body  of  the  argo- 
naut, and  begins  an  independent  life.  Floating  through 
the  water,  it  by  and  by  finds  a  female  argonaut,  with 
which  it  connects  itself,  and  impregnates  it  with  the 
spermatozoa  transported  from  the  male. 

In  the  tapeworm,  a  parasitic  creature  which  is  found 
in  the  human  digestive  canal,  a  very  curious  form 
of  fecundation  has  been  noted.  A\^ien  liberated  from 
the  egg,  it  consists  simply  of  a  head  with  hooks,  by 
which  it  attaches  itself  to  the  mucous  membrane  of  the 


SEX   IN"   LIVING   FOKMS  101 

intestines.  From  the  head  grows  out  a  body,  which 
shortly  divides  into  segments,  which  gradually  increase 
in  number  and  size.  Each  section  contains  both  male 
and  female  sexual  organs,  and  is  self-fecundating. 
After  a  time,  the  older  segments  become  detached,  and 
lead  independent  lives,  until  all  the  ovules  they  contain 
have  been  deposited.  It  has  been  established  that  more 
than  twenty  thousand  eggs  are  produced  by  a  single 
worm. 

In  higher  orders  of  animals,  fecundation  takes  place 
within  the  generative  passages  of  the  female  by  contact 
between  the  male  and  female  organs.  To  effect  this, 
there  are  necessitated  certain  accessory  organs,  the 
penis  in  the  male  and  the  vagina  in  the  female. 

Nothing  in  all  the  range  of  nature  is  more  remark- 
able than  the  adaptation  of  the  two  varieties  of  sexual 
organs  in  each  species.  This  necessary  provision  is 
both  a  powerful  means  of  securing  the  perpetuation 
of  the  species,  and  an  almost  impassible  barrier  against 
amalgamation. 

The  act  of  union,  or  sexual  congress,  is  called  coitus, 
or  copulation.  It  is  accompanied  by  a  peculiar  nervous 
spasm,  due  to  the  excitement  of  special  nerves  princi- 
pally located  in  the  penis  in  the  male,  and  the  clitoris 
and  vagina  in  the  female.  The  nervous  action  referred 
to  is  more  exhausting  to  the  system  than  any  other  to 
which  it  is  subject. 

Union  of  the  Ovum  and  Zoosperm.— The  zoosperms 
not  only  come  in  contact  with  the  ovum,  but  penetrate 
the  thin  membrane  which  incloses  its  contents,  and 
enter  its  interior,  where  they  disappear,  becoming 
united  with  its  substance.  In  the  ova  of  certain  fishes, 
small  openings  have  been  observed,  through  which  the 
spermatozoa  find  entrance.     Wliether  such  openings 


102  jrLAIlsr    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

exist  in  liuman  ova,  is  an  undecided  question ;  but  it  is 
probable  that  they  do. 

Curious  Modes  of  Reproduction.— A  peculiar  kind 
of  reproduction  is  observed  in  a  variety  of  polyp,  a 
curious  animal  which  very  much  resembles  a  flower  in 
appearance.  It  attaches  itself  to  some  solid  object,  and 
then,  as  it  grows,  sends  out  little  protuberances  resem- 
bling buds.  Some  of  these  separate  and  fall  off,  swim- 
ming about  as  separate  animals.  These  never  become 
like  the  parent  polyp;  but  they  lay  eggs,  which  hatch, 
and  become  stationary  polypi,  like  their  grandparent, 
and  in  their  turn  throw  oif  buds  to  form  swimming 
polypi.  In  this  case  we  have  two  kinds  of  generation 
combined,  alternating  with  each  other. 

ParthenogenesiSo— Plant-lice  afford  a  curious  illus- 
tration of  a  similar  generation,  known  as  partheno- 
genesis. Males  and  females  unite,  and  produce  eggs. 
The  creatures  produced  by  the  hatching  of  eggs  are 
neither  males  nor  perfect  females.  They  are  imperfect 
females.  They  are  all  alike,  so  that  no  sexual  union 
occurSo  Instead  of  laying  eggs,  they  produce  live  young 
like  themselves,  which  appear  to  be  developed  from  in- 
ternal buds  similar  to  the  external  buds  of  the  polyp. 
After  this  method  of  reproduction  has  continued  for 
nine  generations,  a  few  perfect  individuals  appear,  and 
the  first  process  is  repeated,  "^yllile  this  budding  proc- 
ess has  been  going  on,  the  original  insect  has  con- 
tinued laying ;  and  so  great  is  the  rapidity  of  this  form 
of  reproduction  that  it  has  been  estimated  that  even 
at  the  end  of  the  fifth  generation,  a  single  insect  may 
be  the  great  great  grandmother  of  nearly  six  billion 
young  ones. 

The  common  honey-bee  affords  another  illustration 
like  the  last.     A  virgin  queen  sometimes  lays  eggs, 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FORMS  103 

which  always  produce  males,  or  drones.  After  union 
with  a  male,  she  lays  eggs  in  the  royal  cells,  and  these 
become  perfect  females  like  herself.  She  also  seems  to 
have  the  power  to  lay,  at  will,  unf ecundated  eggs,  from 
which  drones  are  produced. 

An  analogous  mode  of  reproduction  prevails  among 
certain  species  of  worms,  which  multiply  by  simple 
division  of  the  bod}^  one  portion  producing  the  head, 
and  the  other  the  tail.  The  individuals  thus  produced 
have  no  sex,  and  may  be  called  neuters.  They  go  on 
and  on  reproducing  in  this  way  for  several  generations, 
until  finally  a  new  individual  is  produced  which  is  sexu- 
ally complete  and  reproduction  by  means  of  eggs  is 
again  begun. 

Human  Beings  Are  Developed  Buds.— It  has  been 
very  aptly  suggested  by  an  eminent  physiologist  that 
the  ovum  and  zoosperm  may  be  correctly  considered  as 
internal  buds.  Thus  it  would  appear  that  generation  is 
universally  a  process  of  budding.  A  child  is  but  a  com- 
pound bud,  an  offshoot  from  its  parents.  This  idea  is 
not  a  mere  fancy,  but  has  a  scientific  basis.  As  all  the 
exquisite  details  of  the  most  beautiful  flower  are  in 
essence  contained  within  the  tiny  bud  which  first  makes 
its  appearance,  so  is  the  developed  human  being,  the 
full-grown  man  or  woman,  virtually  contained  within 
the  tiny  cell  called  the  ovum  after  it  has  been  impreg- 
nated or  fecundated  by  the  zoosperms.  In  short,  men 
and  women  are  blossoms  in  a  strictly  scientific  sense. 

The  process  of  fecundation  in  hermaphrodite  ani- 
mals is  very  peculiar.  In  some  cases,  as  in  the  snail,  the 
union  of  two  individuals  is  usually  necessary,  though 
each  possesses  both  kinds  of  organs.  In  other  cases,  as 
in  the  tapeworm,  the  oyster,  and  numerous  other  mol- 
lusks,  a  single  individual  has  the  power  to  fertilize  its 


104  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

own  ova,  thus  being  wholly  independent.  Human  her- 
maphrodites are  usually  so  deformed  that  fecundation 
is  not  effected,  which  is  a  fortunate  safeguard  against 
the  multiplication  of  such  monstrosities. 

Complemental  Males.— One  species  of  barnacle 
was  for  some  time  quite  a  puzzle  to  the  zoologist,  as 
no  male  of  the  species  could  be  found,  hence  no  means 
by  which  the  eggs  produced  by  the  egg-bearing,  or  fe- 
male, animal  could  be  fecundated.  At  last.  Professor 
Darwin  discovered,  snugly  hidden  away  in  the  corner 
of  a  little  i^ocket  in  the  female,  the  male  animal,  so 
unlike  the  female  that  it  had  never  been  suspected  as 
having  any  relationship ;  but  it  proved,  on  examination 
by  dissection,  to  be  a  fully  developed  male.  In  some 
varieties  of  this  queer  species,  the  female  has  been  ob- 
served carrying  in  this  little  pocket  two  or  three  of 
these  diminutive  males. 

Development— After  the  union  of  the  two  elements, 
known  as  fecundation,  or  conception,  if  the  conditions 
are  favorable,  development  occurs;  and  the  little 
germ  is  in  due  process  of  time  developed  into  an 
individual  which  is  an  exact  counterpart  of  its  par- 
ents. During  this  developmental  process,  the  em- 
bryonic being  is  variously  treated  by  different  classes 
of  animals. 

Unprotected  Development.— Most  fishes  and  rep- 
tiles discharge  their  ova  before  fecundation,  or  soon 
after,  and  pay  no  further  attention  to  them.  The  fish 
deposits  its  eggs  in  a  little  hollow  scooped  out  in  the 
gravelly  bed  of  a  stream,  or  sows  them  broadcast  upon 
the  waters.  The  turtle  buries  its  eggs  in  the  sand,  and 
leaves  them  to  be  hatched  by  the  sun.  The  ostrich  dis- 
poses of  her  eggs  in  the  same  way.  Many  other  species 
of  animals  pay  no  regard  to  the  protection  of  the  germs 


SEX    IN    LIVING   FORMS  105 

which  are  destined,  if  placed  under  favorable  condi- 
tions, to  become  individuals  like  themselves. 

Partial  Protection  of  the  Ovum— There  are  some 
exceptions,  however,  to  this  general  rule  among  fishes 
and  reptiles.  Even  fishes  manifest  a  degree  of  parental 
solicitude  in  certain  cases.  The  male  of  a  species  of 
South  American  fish  gathers  up  the  eggs  after  fecunda- 
tion has  taken  place,  and  carries  them  in  his  mouth 
until  they  are  hatched.  Another  male  fish  carries  the 
eggs  of  his  mate  in  a  little  pouch  upon  the  lower  and 
posterior  part  of  his  body. 

Certain  species  of  frogs  carry  their  eggs  wound 
about  their  legs;  others  suspend  them  from  the  abdo- 
men. Another  variety  carries  its  young  upon  its  back. 
Professor  Wyman  describes  a  ''swamp  toad"  which 
patiently  takes  the  eggs  of  his  mate,  one  by  one,  and 
fastens  them  upon  her  back,  observing  great  regularity 
in  arrangement.  These  several  devices  are  evidently 
for  the  purpose  of  protecting,  in  some  degree,  the 
young  individuals  during  the  helpless  stage  of  their 
existence. 

The  eggs  of  sharks,  which  are  few  in  number,  are 
each  provided  with  a  horny  covering  and  four  filament- 
ous attachments  resembling  the  tendrils  of  a  grape- 
vine, by  which  they  become  entangled  among  the  sea- 
weeds, and  are  thus  protected. 

The  cuttlefish  covers  its  eggs  between  the  folds  of 
its  queerly  shaped  body. 

Some  species  of  fish  gather  their  eggs  together  in 
masses,  and  surround  them  by  a  protective  covering. 
A  species  of  worm  carries  a  whole  colony  of  little  ones 
upon  its  back.  Even  the  starfish  protects  its  eggs 
with  its  arms;  and  if  they  become  scattered,  gathers 
them  up. 
7 


106  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Development  in  the  Higher  Animals  and  Man. — 

Higher  anunals  are  less  prolific,  and  their  development 
is  a  more  complicated  process ;  hence,  their  young  need 
greater  protection;  and  for  this  reason,  the  ova,  in- 
stead of  being  discharged  from  the  body  of  the  female 
after  fecundation,  are  retained. 

Curious  examples  of  internal  development  some- 
times occur  in  animals  which  usually  deposit  eggs. 
Snakes  have  been  known  to  produce  both  eggs  and  liv- 
ing young  at  the  same  time.  At  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  American  Society  for  the  Advancement  of  Science, 
at  Detroit,  Mich.,  in  August,  1875,  we  had  the  pleasure 
of  examining  a  specimen,  exhibited  by  Professor 
Wilder,  of  a  chick  which  had  undergone  a  considerable 
degree  of  development  within  the  ovary  of  the  hen.  It 
had  a  head,  a  rudimentary  brain,  and  internal  viscera, 
but  no  feathers  nor  limbs.  It  was,  in  fact,  an  egg 
hatched  before  it  had  been  laid.  The  anomaly  excited 
much  interest  at  that  time,  and  since,  among  biologists. 

As  we  have  seen  that  a  suitable  receptacle  is  some- 
times provided  outside  of  the  body,  so  now  a  recepta- 
cle is  needed,  and  is  provided  in  the  interior  of  the 
body  of  the  female.    This  receptacle  is  called— 

The  Uterus.— This  is  a  hollow,  pear-shaped  organ, 
located  in  the  median  line,  just  behind  the  bladder, 
between  it  and  the  rectum.  It  is  supported  in  place 
by  various  ligaments,  and  by  the  juxtaposition  of  other 
organs.  Its  larger  end  is  directed  upward,  and  com- 
municates upon  each  side  with  a  very  narrow  tube, 
which  is  prolonged  outward  on  either  side  until  it 
nearly  touches  the  ovary  of  the  same  side.  Its  lower 
and  smaller  end  fills  the  internal  extremity  of  the  pas- 
sage previously  described  as  the  vagina.  When  the 
ovum  is  matured,  it  escapes  from  the  ovary  into  the 


SEX   IN   LIVING   FOEMS  107 

narrow  tube  referred  to,  called  the  Fallopian  tube,  and 
passes  down  into  the  cavity  of  the  uterus.  If  fecunda- 
tion does  not  occur,  it  is  expelled  or  absorbed  after  six 
to  twelve  or  fourteen  days.  If  copulation  occurs,  how- 
ever, zoosperms  are  brought  into  the  cavity  of  the 
uterus,  and,  coming  in  contact  with  the  ovum,  fecun- 
date it.  This  is  conception.  When  the  natural  process 
is  allowed  to  proceed,  development  occurs. 

Gestation,  or  Pregnancy.— This  is  the  term  applied 
to  the  process  last  referred  to.  We  shall  not  attempt 
to  describe  in  detail  this  most  wonderful  and  intricate 
of  all  living  processes;  but  will  sketch  only  the  chief 
points,  leaving  the  reader  who  would  obtain  a  more 
complete  knowledge  of  the  subject,  to  consult  any  one 
of  the  numerous  physiological  and  obstetrical  works 
which  deal  with  it  in  a  very  exhaustive  manner. 

As  soon  as  the  ovum  is  impregnated  by  the  male 
element,  it  begins  a  process  of  symmetrical  division. 
The  first  division  produces  two  cells  out  of  the  single 
one  which  first  existed.  By  the  next  division,  four 
segments  are  produced ;  then  eight,  sixteen,  etc.  While 
this  process  is  going  on,  the  ovum  becomes  adherent  to 
the  internal  wall  of  the  uterus,  and  is  soon  enveloped 
by  its  mucous  membrane,  which  grows  up  about  it  and 
incloses  it. 

The  Primitive  Trace.— Wlien  the  process  of  seg- 
mentation has  advanced  to  a  certain  point,  the  cells  are 
aggregated  together  in  a  compact  layer  at  the  surface. 
Soon  a  straight  line  appears  upon  this  layer,  which  is 
called  the  primitive  trace.  This  delicate  line  becomes 
the  basis  for  the  spinal  column ;  and  upon  and  about  it 
the  whole  individual  is  developed  by  an  intricate  proc- 
ess of  folding,  dividing,  and  reduplication  of  the  layer 
of  cells.     One  end  of  the  line  becomes  the  head,  and 


108  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

the  other  becomes  the  taih  Even  man  has  a  caudal 
appendage  at  an  early  stage  of  his  existence.  After 
a  further  laj^se  of  time,  little  excrescences,  buds,  or 
''pads"  appear  in  the  proper  positions  to  represent 
the  arms  and  legs.  After  further  development,  the 
ends  split  up  into  fingers  and  toes,  and  by  the  continued 
development  of  the  parts,  perfect  arms  and  legs  are 
formed. 

Simplicity  of  Early  Structures.— The  first  struc- 
tures formed  are  exceedingly  simple  in  form.  It  is  only 
by  slow  degrees  that  the  great  complicity  which  char- 
acterizes many  organs  is  finally  attained.  For  ex- 
ample, the  heart  is  at  first  only  a  straight  tube.  By 
enlargement  and  the  formation  of  longitudinal  and 
transverse  partitions,  the  fully  developed  organ  is 
finally  produced.  The  stomach  and  intestines  are  also 
at  first  but  a  simple  straight  tube.  The  stomach  and 
large  intestine  are  formed  by  dilatation;  and  by  growth 
of  the  tube  in  length  while  the  ends  are  confined,  the 
small  intestines  are  formed.  The  other  internal  organs 
are  successively  developed  by  similar  processes. 

The  Stages  of  Growth.— At  first,  insignificant  in 
size,  a  simj^le  cell,  the  embryonic  human  being  steadily 
increases  in  size,  gradually  apj)roximating  more  and 
more  closely  to  the  human  form,  until,  at  the  end  of 
about  nine  calendar  months,  or  ten  lunar  months,  the 
new  individual  is  prepared  to  enter  the  world,  and 
begin  a  more  independent  course  of  life.  The  follow- 
ing condensation  of  a  summary  quoted  by  Dr.  Austin 
Flint,  Jr.,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  size  of  the  devel- 
oping being  at  different  periods,  and  the  rate  of  prog- 
ress: 

At  the  end  of  the  third  week,  the  embryon  is  a  little 
less  than  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  length. 


SEX   IN"    LIVING   FORMS  109 

At  the  end  of  tlie  seventh  week,  it  is  three-fourths 
of  an  inch  long.  The  liver,  lungs,  and  other  internal 
organs  are  partially  formed. 

At  the  eighth  week,  it  is  about  one  inch  in  length. 
It  begins  to  look  some  like  a  human  being,  but  it  is 
impossible  to  determine  the  sex. 

At  the  third  month,  the  embryon  has  attained  the 
length  of  from  two  to  two  and  one-half  inches.  Its 
weight  is  about  one  ounce. 

At  the  end  of  the  fourth  month,  the  embryon  is 
called  a  fetus.  It  is  from  four  to  five  inches  long,  and 
weighs  five  ounces. 

At  the  fifth  month,  the  fetus  is  nearly  a  foot  long, 
and  weighs  about  half  a  pound. 

At  the  sixth  month,  the  average  length  of  the  fetus 
is  about  thirteen  inches,  and  its  weight  one  and  a  half 
to  two  pounds.  If  born,  life  could  continue  a  few  min- 
utes. 

At  the  seventh  month,  the  fetus  is  from  fourteen  to 
fifteen  inches  long,  and  weighs  from  two  to  three 
pounds.     It  is  now  viable  (may  live  if  born). 

At  the  eighth  month,  the  length  of  the  fetus  is  from 
fifteen  to  sixteen  inches,  and  its  weight  from  three  to 
four  pounds. 

At  the  ninth  month,  the  fetus  is  about  seventeen 
inches  long,  and  weighs  from  five  to  six  pounds. 

At  birth,  the  infant  weighs  a  little  more  than  seven 
pounds,  the  usual  range  being  from  four  to  ten  pounds, 
though  these  limits  are  sometimes  exceeded. 

Duration  of  Gestation.— The  length  of  time  re- 
quired for  the  development  of  a  human  being  is  usually 
reckoned  as  about  forty  weeks.  A  more  precise  state- 
ment places  it  at  about  two  hundred  and  seventy-eight 
days.     This  limit  is  often  varied  from.     Cases  have 


110  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND   YOUNG 

occurred  in  which  a  much  longer  time  has  been  re- 
quired; and  numberless  cases  are  recorded  in  which 
human  beings  have  been  born  several  weeks  before  the 
expiration  of  the  usual  time,  as  stated.  There  is  some 
uncertainty  respecting  the  exact  length  of  the  period 
of  gestation,  which  grows  out  of  the  difficulty  of  deter- 
mining, in  many  cases,  the  exact  time  when  conception 
took  place. 

In  the  kangaroo,  though  the  period  required  for  de- 
velopment is  about  the  same  as  in  the  human  female, 
uterine  gestation  continues  for  only  thirty-nine  days. 
At  the  end  of  this  time,  the  infant  kangaroo  is  trans- 
ferred to  a  pouch  provided  under  the  hinder  part  of 
the  body  of  the  mother,  which  also  contains  the  mam- 
mary glands.  To  the  nipple  of  one  of  these,  the  lips  of 
the  young  animal  become  attached,  and  by  a  curious 
rhythmical  action  of  certain  muscles,  the  paternal  nour- 
ishment is  regularly  forced  into  the  mouth  of  the  little 
one.  The  eminent  Professor  Owen  thus  remarks  con- 
cerning this  remarkable  mode  of  caring  for  the  young : 

''Thus  aided  and  protected  by  modifications  of 
structure,  both  in  the  system  of  the  mother  and  in  its 
own,  designed  with  special  reference  to  each  other's 
peculiar  condition,  and  affording,  therefore,  the  most 
irrefragible  evidence  of  creative  foresight,  the  feeble 
offspring  continues  to  increase  from  sustenance  derived 
exclusively  from  the  mother,  for  a  period  of  about 
eight  months.  The  young  kangaroo  may  then  fre- 
quently be  seen  to  protrude  its  head  from  the  mouth 
of  the  pouch,  and  to  crop  the  grass  at  the  same  time 
the  mother  is  browsing.  Having  thus  acquired  addi- 
tional strength,  it  quits  the  pouch,  and  hops  at  first 
with  a  feeble  and  vacillating  gait,  but  continues  to  re- 
turn to  the  pouch  for  occasional  shelter  and  sujjplies  of 


SEX    IN    LIVING    FORMS  111 

food,  until  it  has  attained  the  weight  of  ten  pounds. 
After  this,  it  will  occasionally  insert  its  head  for  the 
purpose  of  sucking,  notwithstanding  another  fetus  may 
have  been  deposited  in  the  pouch ;  for  the  latter  attaches 
itself  to  a  different  nipple  from  the  one  which  has  pre- 
viously been  in  use." 

Uterine  Life.— The  uterine  life  of  the  new  indi- 
vidual begins  with  the  impregnation  of  the  ovum,  which 
occurs  the  instant  it  is  brought  in  contact  with  the  zoo- 
sperms  of  the  male.  While  in  the  uterus,  the  young 
life  is  supported  wholly  by  the  mother.  She  is  obliged 
to  provide  not  only  for  her  own  sustenance,  but  for  the 
maintenance  of  her  child.  And  she  must  not  only  eat 
for  it,  but  breathe  for  it  as  well,  since  it  requires  a 
constant  and  adequate  supply  of  oxygen  before  birth 
as  much  as  afterward. 

How  the  Unborn  Infant  Breathes.— Oxygen  and 
nutriment  are  both  supplied  to  it  through  the  medium 
of  an  organ  called  the  placenta,  which  is  a  spongy 
growth,  composed  almost  entirely  of  blood-vessels,  and 
is  developed  upon  the  inner  wall  of  the  uterus,  at  the 
point  where  the  ovum  attaches  itself  after  fecundation. 
The  growing  fetus  is  connected  with  this  vascular  organ 
by  means  of  a  sort  of  cable,  called  the  umbilical  cord. 
The  cord  is  almost  entirely  composed  of  blood-vessels, 
which  convey  the  blood  of  the  fetus  to  the  placenta,  and 
return  it  again.  The  fetal  blood  does  not  mix  with 
that  of  the  mother,  but  receives  oxygen  and  nourish- 
ment from  it  by  absorption  through  the  thin  walls 
which  alone  separate  it  from  the  mother's  blood. 

The  umbilical  cord  contains  no  nerves,  as  there  is 
no  nervous  connection  between  the  mother  and  the 
child.  The  only  way  in  which  the  child  can  be  influ- 
enced by  the  mother  is  through  the  medium  of  the 


112  PLAIN    FACTS    FOB   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

blood,  to  changes  in  which  it  is  very  susceptible,  as  we 
shall  see  more  clearly  hereafter. 

The  cord  is  attached  to  the  body  of  the  child  at  the 
point  called  the  navel,  being  cut  off  at  birth  by  the  ac- 
coucheur. With  the  placenta,  it  is  expelled  soon  after 
the  birth  of  the  child,  and  constitutes  the  shapeless 
mass  familiarly  known  as  the  after-birth,  by  the  reten- 
tion of  which  the  most  serious  trouble  is  occasionally 
caused. 

Parturition,  or  Childbirth.— At  the  end  of  the 
peribd  of  development,  the  young  being  is  forcibly  ex- 
pelled from  the  laboratory  of  nature  in  which  it  has 
been  formed.  In  other  words,  it  is  born ;  and  this  proc- 
ess is  termed  parturition.  Though  at  first  thought  such 
an  act  would  seem  an  utter  impossibility,  yet  it  is  a 
very  admirable  illustration  of  nature's  adaptation  of 
means  to  ends.  During  the  months  of  gestation,  while 
the  uterus  has  been  enlarging  to  accommodate  its  daily 
increasing  contents,  the  generative  passages  have  also 
been  increasing  in  size,  and  becoming  soft  and  disten- 
sible, so  that  a  seeming  impossibility  is  in  due  time  ac- 
complished without  physical  damage,  though  possibly 
not  without  intense  suffering.  However,  it  is  a  most 
gratifying  fact  that  modern  medical  science  may  do 
much  to  mitigate  the  pains  of  childbirth.  It  is  possible, 
by  a  proper  course  of  preparation  for  the  expected 
event,  to  greatly  lessen  the  suffering  usually  under- 
gone; and  some  ladies  assert  that  they  have  thus 
avoided  real  pain  altogether.  Although  the  curse  pro- 
nounced upon  the  feminine  part  of  the  race,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  sin  of  Eve,  implies  suffering  in  the 
parturient  act,  yet  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  greater 
share  of  the  daughters  of  Eve  are,  through  the  per- 
verting and  degenerating  influences  of  wrong  habits. 


SEX    IX    LIVING    FORMS  113 

and  especially  of  modern  civilization,  compelled  to 
suffer  many  times  more  tlian  their  maternal  ancestor. 
We  have  sufficient  evidence  of  this  in  the  fact  that 
among  barbarian  women,  who  are  generally  less  per- 
verted physically  than  civilized  women,  childbirth  is 
regarded  with  very  little  apprehension,  since  it  occa- 
sions little  pain  or  inconvenience.  The  same  is  true 
of  many  women  among  the  lower  laboring  classes.  In 
short,  while  it  is  true  that  more  or  less  suffering  must 
always  accompany  the  parturient  act,  yet  the  excessive 
pain  usually  attendant  upon  the  process  is  the  result 
of  causes  which  can  in  many  cases  be  removed  by 
l^roper  management  beforehand  and  at  the  time  of  con- 
finement. 

After  being  relieved  of  its  contents,  the  uterus  and 
other  organs  rapidly  return  to  nearly  their  original 
size. 

Changes  in  the  Child  at  Birth.— In  the  system  of 
the  child  a  wonderful  change  occurs  at  the  moment  of 
its  expulsion  into  the  outer  world.  For  the  first  time, 
its  lungs  are  filled  with  air.  For  the  first  time,  they 
receive  the  full  tide  of  blood.  The  whole  course  of  the 
circulation  is  changed,  and  an  entirely  new  process  be- 
gins. It  is  surprising  in  how  short  a  space  of  time 
changes  so  marvelous  can  be  wrought. 

Nursing.— The  process  of  development  is  not  fully 
complete  at  birth.  The  young  life  is  not  yet  prepared 
to  support  itself ;  hence,  still  further  provision  is  neces- 
sary for  it.  It  requires  prepared  food  suited  to  its  con- 
dition. This  is  provided  by  the  mammae,  or  breasts,  of 
the  female,  which  are  glands  for  secreting  milk.  The 
fully  developed  gland  is  peculiar  to  the  female;  but  a 
few  instances  have  been  known  in  which  it  has  been 
sufficiently  developed  to  become  functionally  active  in 


114  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

men,  as  well  as  in  young  girls,  though  it  is  usually  inac- 
tive even  in  women  until  near  the  close  of  gestation. 
It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  breasts  of  a  new-born  child 
occasionally  contain  milk. 

The  first  product  of  the  mammae  is  not  the  proper 
milk  secretion,  but  is  a  yellowish  fluid,  called  colostrum. 
The  true  milk  secretion  begins  two  or  three  days  after 
delivery. 

The  lacteal  secretion  is  influenced  in  a  very  remark- 
able manner  by  the  mental  conditions  of  the  mother. 
By  sudden  emotions  of  grief  or  anger,  it  has  been 
known  to  undergo  such  changes  as  to  produce  in  the 
child  a  fit  of  indigestion,  vomiting,  diarrhea,  and  even 
convulsions  and  death.  Any  medicine  taken  by  the 
mother  finds  its  way  into  the  milk,  and  often  affects 
the  delicate  system  of  the  infant  more  than  herself. 
This  fact  should  be  a  warning  to  those  nursing  moth- 
ers who  use  stimulants.  Cases  are  not  uncommon  in 
which  delicate  infants  are  kept  in  a  state  of  intoxica- 
tion for  weeks  by  the  use  of  alcoholic  drinks  by  the 
mother.  The  popular  notion  that  lager-beer,  ale,  wine, 
or  alcohol  in  any  other  form,  is  in  any  degree  neces- 
sary or  beneficial  to  a  nursing  woman,  is  a  great  error, 
which  cannot  be  too  often  noticed  and  condemned.  Not 
only  is  the  mother  injured  instead  of  being  benefited 
by  such  a  practice,  but  great  injury,  sometimes  life- 
long in  its  consequence,  is  inflicted  upon  the  babe  at 
the  breast,  who  takes  the  intoxicating  poison  second 
hand,  and  is  influenced  in  a  fourfold  degree  because  of 
its  feebleness  and  great  susceptibility. 


SEX    IN    LIVING    FORMS  115 

ANATOMY    OF    THE     REPRODUCTIVE 
ORGANS 

Having  now  considered  the  functions  and  something 
of  the  structure  of  the  principal  organs  of  reproduc- 
tion, we  may  obtain  a  more  definite  idea  of  the  relation 
of  the  several  organs  of  each  class  by  a  connected  re- 
view of  the  anatomy  of  the  parts. 

Male  Organs.— As  previously  stated,  the  external 
organs  of  generation  in  the  male  are  the  penis  and  the 
testicles,  the  latter  being  contained  in  a  pouch,  called 
the  scrotum.  The  penis  is  the  organ  of  urination  as 
well  as  of  copulation.  Its  structure  is  cellular,  and  it 
contains  a  vast  number  of  minute  coils  of  blood-ves- 
sels, which  become  turgid  with  blood  under  the  in- 
fluence of  sexual  excitement,  producing  distention  and 
erection  of  the  organ.  A  canal  passes  through  its  en- 
tire length,  called  the  urethra,  which  conveys  both  the 
urine  and  the  seminal  fluid.  The  organ  is  protected  by 
a  loose  covering  of  integument,  which  folds  over  the 
end.     This  fold  is  called  the  foreskin,  or  prepuce. 

The  fluid  formed  by  each  testicle  is  conveyed  by  the 
vas  deferens,  a  curved  tube  about  two  feet  in  length,  to 
the  base  of  the  bladder.  Here  the  vas  deferens  joins 
with  another  duct,  which  communicates  with  an  elon-- 
gated  pouch,  the  vesicula  seminalis,  lying  close  to  the 
under  side  of  the  bladder.  The  single  tube  thus  formed, 
the  ejaculatory  duct,  conveys  the  seminal  fluid  to  the 
urethra,  from  which  it  is  discharged. 

As  the  production  of  seminal  fluid  is  more  or  less 
constant  in  man  and  some  animals,  while  its  discharge 
is  intermittent,  the  vesiculae  seminales  serve  as  reser- 
voirs for  the  fluid,  preserving  it  until  required,  or 
allowing  it  to  undergo  absorption.     Some  claim  that 


116  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

the  zoosperms  are  matured  in  these  organs.  They  al- 
ways contain  seminal  fluid  after  the  age  of  puberty. 
During  coition,  their  contents  are  forcibly  expelled  by 
a  spasmodic  contraction  of  the  muscles  which  surround 
them  and  the  ducts  leading  from  them. 

The  Prostate  Gland.— Surrounding  the  ejaculatory 
ducts  and  their  openings  into  the  urethra  at  the  base  of 
the  bladder,  is  the  prostate  gland,  which  produces  a 
peculiar  secretion  that  forms  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  seminal  fluid,  being  mingled  with  the  secretion 
of  the  testes  during  its  ejaculation.  This  gland  some- 
times becomes  the  seat  of  rather  serious  disease.  In 
old  age,  it  usually  becomes  slightly  indurated,  and 
often  to  such  an  extent  as  to  seriously  affect  the  health 
and  comfort  of  the  individual  by  interference  with 
urination  and  by  occasioning  pain. 

Anterior  to  this  organ,  in  the  urethra,  is  a  curious 
little  pouch,  the  utriculus,  which  corresponds  to  the 
vagina  and  uterus  in  the  female.  Just  in  front  of  the 
prostate  gland  are  two  small  bodies,  known  as  Coivper's 
glands.  They  secrete  a  fluid  which  combines  with  the 
seminal  secretion. 

Female  Organs.— The  ovaries,  uterus  or  womb, 
Fallopian  tubes,  and  vagina  have  already  been  de- 
scribed in  part.  The  external  organs  of  the  female  are 
included  in  the  term  vulva,  or  pudenda.  The  most 
superficial  parts  are  the  labia,  two  thick  folds  of  in- 
tegument. Just  within  these  two  are  thinner  folds,  the 
labia  minora,  or  nymphae.  These,  together  with  the 
clitoris,  situated  just  above,  are  extremely  sensitive 
organs,  being  the  chief  seat  of  sexual  sense  in  the 
female.  At  the  lower  part  is  the  opening  to  the  vagina, 
which  in  the  virgin  is  usually  partially  guarded  by  a 
thin  membrane,   the   hymen.     This  is  not   always   a 


SEX    IN    LIVING    FORMS  117 

reliable  test  of  virginity,  however,  as  commonly  re- 
garded, since  it  may  be  destroyed  by  disease  or  ac- 
cident, and  may  exist  even  after  the  occurrence  of 
pregnancy. 

The  vagina  extends  from  the  vulva  to  the  lower  end 
of  the  uterus,  which  it  incloses,  passing  between  the 
bladder  and  the  rectum.  The  lower  extremity  of  the 
uterus  presents  a  small  opening,  which  leads  into  its 
interior.  Upon  either  side,  at  its  upper  and  larger  end, 
is  a  minute  opening,  the  mouth  of  the  Fallopian  tube. 
The  latter  organs  extend  from  the  uterus  outward 
nearly  to  the  ovaries,  toward  which  they  present  a 
number  of  small  filaments,  one  of  which  is  in  contact 
with  each  ovary.  These  filaments,  together  with  the 
interior  of  the  tubes,  are  covered  with  a  peculiar  kind 
of  cells,  upon  which  are  minute  cilia,  or  hairs,  in  con- 
stant motion.  Very  curiously,  they  all  move  in  the 
same  direction,  toward  the  cavity  of  the  uterus.  When 
an  ovum  escapes  from  the  ovary  in  connection  with 
menstruation,  it  is  by  these  delicate  hairs  propelled 
along  a  filament  of  tissue  to  the  Fallopian  tube,  and 
thence  by  the  same  means  is  conveyed  to  the  uterus. 
It  may  come  in  contact  with  the  zoosperms  at  any  point 
between  the  ovary  and  the  lower  orifice  of  the  uterus, 
and  thus  undergo  fecundation. 

Puberty.— For  a  certain  period  after  birth,  the 
sexual  organs  remain  in  a  partially  developed  condi- 
tion. This  period  varies  in  duration  with  different 
animals,  in  some  cases  being  very  brief,  in  others,  com- 
prising several  years.  Upon  the  attainment  of  a  cer- 
tain age,  the  individual  becomes  sexually  perfect,  and 
is  then  capable  of  the  generative  act.  This  period  is 
called  puberty. 

In  man,  puberty  commonly  occurs  between  the  ages 


118  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

of  ten  and  fifteen  years,  varying  considerably  in  differ- 
ent climates.  In  this  country,  and  in  other  countries  of 
about  the  same  latitude,  puberty  usually  occurs  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  or  fourteen  and  one-half  years  in  fe- 
males, and  a  few  months  later  in  males.  In  cooler 
climates,  as  in  Norway  and  Siberia,  the  change  is  de- 
layed to  the  age  of  eighteen  or  nineteen  years.  In 
tropical  climates  it  is  hastened,  occurring  as  early  as 
nine  or  ten  years.  In  warm  climates  it  is  no  uncom- 
mon thing  for  a  girl  to  be  a  mother  at  twelve ;  and  it  is 
stated  that  one  of  the  wives  of  Mahomet  was  a  mother 
at  ten. 

Other  causes  besides  climate  tend  to  hasten  the  oc- 
currence of  this  change,  as  habits,  temperament,  con- 
stitutional tendency,  education,  and  idiosyncrasy. 

Causes  Which  Delay  Puberty.— Habits  of  vigor- 
ous physical  exercise  tend  to  delay  puberty.  For  this 
reason,  together  with  others,  country  boys  and  girls 
generally  mature  later  than  those  living  in  the  city 
by  several  months,  and  even  a  year  or  two.  Anything 
that  tends  to  excite  the  emotions  hastens  puberty.  The 
excitements  of  city  life,  parties,  balls,  theaters,  even 
the  competition  of  students  in  school,  and  the  various 
causes  of  excitement  to  the  nervous  system  which  occur 
in  city  life,  have  a  tendency  to  hasten  the  occurrence 
of  the  change  which  awakens  the  sexual  activities  of  the 
system  into  life.  Hence,  these  influences  cannot  but 
be  considered  prejudicial  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
individual,  mentally,  morally,  and  physically,  since  it 
is  in  every  way  desirable  that  a  change  which  arouses 
the  passions  and  gives  to  them  greater  intensity,  should 
be  delayed  rather  than  hastened. 

Influence  of  Diet  on  Puberty.— The  dietary  has  a 
not  unimportant  influence  in  this  respect.    Stimulating 


SEX    IN    LIVING    FOKMS  119 

foods,  such  as  pepper,  vinegar,  mustard,  spices,  and 
condiments  generally,  together  with  tea  and  coffee,  and 
an  excess  of  animal  food,  have  a  clearly  appreciable 
influence  in  inducing  the  premature  occurrence  of  pu- 
berty. On  this  account,  if  on  no  other,  should  these 
articles  be  prohibited  to  children  and  youth,  or  used 
very  sparingly.  Those  who  advocate  the  large  use  of 
meat  by  children  and  youth  have  not  studied  this  mat- 
ter closely  in  all  its  bearings.  Wliile  it  is  true  that 
children  and  growing  youth  require  an  abundance  of 
the  nitrogenous  elements  of  food  which  are  found 
abundantly  in  beefsteak,  mutton,  fish,  and  other  vari- 
eties of  animal  food,  it  is  also  true  that  in  taking  these 
articles  of  food,  they  take,  along  with  the  nutrient  ele- 
ments, properties  of  a  stimulating  character,  which 
exert  a  decidedly  detrimental  influence  upon  the  sus- 
ceptible systems  of  children  and  youth.  At  the  same 
time,  it  is  possible  to  obtain  the  same  desirable  nitrog- 
enous elements  in  oatmeal,  unbolted  wheat  flour,  peas, 
beans,  and  other  vegetable  productions,  which  are 
wholly  free  from  injurious  properties.  We  are  posi- 
tive, from  numerous  observations  on  this  subject,  that 
a  cool,  unstimulating  vegetable  or  farinaceous  diet 
would  deter  the  development  of  the  sexual  organism 
for  several  months,  and  perhaps  for  a  year  or  two. 

While  it  might  not  be  in  all  cases  desirable  to  do 
this,  it  would  at  least  be  wise  to  adopt  such  measures 
in  cases  in  which  the  child  is  unavoidably  exposed  to 
influences  which  have  a  tendency  to  hasten  the  change. 

A  Caution.— It  is  important  to  add  in  this  connec- 
tion a  word  of  caution  against  the  adoption  of  a  dietary 
too  abstemious  in  character.  It  is  necessary  that  an 
abundance  of  good,  wholesome  food,  rich  in  the  ele- 
ments of  nutrition,  should  be  taken  regularly.    There 


120  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

is  no  doubt  that  many  young  ladies  have  induced  con- 
ditions of  serious  disease  by  actual  starvation  of  the 
system.  A  young  woman  who  attempts  to  live  on 
strong  tea  or  coffee,  fine-flour  bread,  and  sweet  cake, 
is  as  certainly  starving  herself  as  though  she  were  pur- 
posely attempting  to  commit  suicide  by  starvation,  and 
with  as  much  certainty  of  the  same  result. 

Brunettes  Precocious.— It  has  been  observed  that 
in  girls  the  occurrence  of  puberty  is  earlier  in  brunettes 
than  in  blondes;  and  in  general,  it  makes  its  appear- 
ance earlier  in  persons  of  a  nervous  or  nervo-bilious 
temperament  than  in  persons  of  a  lymphatic  tempera- 
ment or  phlegmatic  nature. 

Certain  nationalities  and  families  are  marked  by 
the  earlier  occurrence  of  puberty  than  others.  In  Jews, 
the  change  is  commonly  a  year  or  two  in  advance  of 
other  nationalities  in  this  country.  It  also  occurs  some- 
what sooner  in  negroes  or  Creoles  than  in  white  per- 
sons, the  African  race  seeming  to  retain  something  of 
the  precocity  occasioned  by  the  tropical  influence  of 
its  native  clime. 

Remarkable  Precocity.— Cases  occasionally  occur 
in  which  puberty  makes  its  appearance  at  the  age  of 
three  or  four  years.  Indeed,  a  case  has  been  reported 
in  this  country  in  which  a  female  child  possessed  at 
birth  all  the  characteristics  which  are  usually  devel- 
oped at  puberty.  In  this  case  the  regular  periodical 
changes  began  at  birth. 

Premature  Development  Occasions  Early  Decay. 
—A  fact  which  is  of  too  great  importance  to  be  al- 
lowed to  pass  unnoticed,  is  that  whatever  occasions 
early  or  premature  sexual  development,  also  occasions 
premature  decay.  Females  in  whom  puberty  occurs 
at  the  age  of  ten  or  twelve,  by  the  time  their  age  is 


SEX    IN    LIVING    FORMS  121 

doubled,  are  shriveled  and  wrinkled  with  age.  At  the 
time  when  they  should  be  in  their  prime  of  health  and 
beauty,  they  are  prematurely  old  and  broken.  Those 
women  who  mature  late,  retain  their  beauty  and  their 
strength  many  years  after  their  precocious  sisters  have 
become  old,  decrepit,  and  broken  down.  Thus,  the 
matrons  of  thirty  and  forty  years  in  colder  climates 
are  much  more  attractive  in  appearance  than  the  maid- 
ens of  sixteen;  while  quite  the  reverse  is  true  in  this 
and  other  countries  where  sexual  development  is  un- 
duly hastened. 

Early  Puberty  a  Cause  for  Anxiety.— The  un- 
naturally early  appearance  of  puberty  is  a  just  cause 
for  apprehension,  since  it  usually  indicates  an  inherent 
weakness  of  the  constitution.  Wlien  there  are  reasons 
for  fearing  its  occurrence,  active  measures  should  be 
taken  to  occasion  delay  if  possible.  We  call  especial 
attention  to  this  point,  since  there  are  many  who  erro- 
neously suppose  the  early  occurrence  of  puberty  to  be 
a  sign  of  superior  vigor. 

Changes  "Which  Occur  at  Puberty.— The  changes 
which  occur  in  the  two  sexes  at  this  period  have  been 
thus  described— 

''In  both  sexes,  hair  grows  on  the  skin  covering  the 

symphysis  pubis,  around  the  sexual  organs,  and  in  the 

axillaB   (armpits).     In  man,  the  chest  and  shoulders 

broaden,  the  larynx  enlarges,  and  the  voice  becomes 

lower  in  pitch  from  the  elongation  of  the  vocal  cords; 

hair  grows  upon  the  chin,  upper  lip,  and  cheeks,  and 

often  exists  upon  the  general  surface  of  the  body  more 

abundantly    than    in    woman."      The    sexual    organs 

undergo  enlargement,  and  are  more  frequently  excited. 

The  testicles  first  begin  the  secretion  of  the  seminal 

fluid. 

8 


122  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

''In  woman,  the  pelvis  and  abdomen  enlarge,  but 
the  whole  frame  remains  more  slender,  the  muscles 
and  joints  less  prominent,  the  limbs  more  rounded  and 
tapering  [than  in  the  male].  Locally,  both  external 
and  internal  organs  undergo  a  considerable  and  rapid 
enlargement.  The  mammae  enlarge,  the  ovarian  vesi- 
cles become  dilated,  and  there  is  established  a  period- 
ical discharge  of  one  or  more  ova,  accompanied,  in 
most  cases,  by  a  sanguineous  fluid  from  the  cavity  of 
the  uterus." 

These  changes,  so  varied  and  extraordinary,  often 
occur  within  a  very  short  space  of  time;  and  as  they 
are  liable  to  serious  derangement,  especially  in  the 
female,  great  care  should  be  taken  to  secure  for  the 
individual  the  most  favorable  conditions  until  they  are 
successfully  effected.  It  is,  however,  a  fact  deserving 
of  mention,  that  many  of  the  ills  which  are  developed 
at  this  particular  period  are  quite  as  much  the  result 
of  previous  indiscretions  and  mismanagements  as  of 
any  immediate  cause.  A  few  suggestions  with  regard 
to  the  proper  treatment  of  individuals  at  this  age  may 
be  in  place: 

1.  Do  not  allow  the  boy  or  girl  to  be  overworked, 
either  mentally  or  physically.  Great  and  important 
changes  are  occurring  within  the  body,  and  nature 
should  not  be  overtaxed. 

2.  Keep  the  mind  occupied.  While  excessive  labor 
should  be  avoided,  idleness  should  be  as  carefully 
shunned.  Some  light,  useful  employment  or  harmless 
amusement— better  some  kind  of  work— should  keep 
the  mind  fully  occuj)ied  with  wholesome  subjects. 

3.  Abundant  exercise  out-of-doors  is  essential  for 
both  sexes.    Sunshine  and  fresh  air  are  as  necessary  to 


SEX    IN    LIVING    FORMS  123 

the  development  of  a  human  being  as  for  the  expand- 
ing of  a  flower  bud. 

4.  Watch  carefully  the  associations  of  the  youth. 
This  should  be  done  at  all  times,  but  especially  just  at 
the  critical  period  in  question,  when  the  general  phys- 
ical disturbances  occurring  in  the  system  react  upon 
the  mind,  and  make  it  peculiarly  susceptible  to  influ- 
ences of  every  sort,  especially  those  of  an  evil  char- 
acter. 

5.  None  too  much  care  can  be  exercised  at  this  im- 
portant epoch  of  human  life,  provided  it  is  properly 
applied;  but  nothing  could  be  more  disastrous  in  its 
consequences  than  a  weak  solicitude  which  panders  to 
every  whim  and  gratifies  every  perverted  appetite. 
Such  care  is  a  fatal  error. 

Menstruation.  —  The  functional  changes  which 
occur  in  the  female  are  much  more  marked  than  those 
of  the  male.  As  already  intimated,  the  periodical  de- 
velopment and  discharge  of  an  ovum  by  the  female, 
which  occurs  after  puberty,  is  accompanied  by  the  dis- 
charge of  a  bloody  fluid,  which  is  known  as  the  floivers, 
menses,  or  catamenia.  The  accompanying  symptoms 
together  are  termed  the  process  of  menstruation,  or 
being  unwell.  This  usually  occurs,  in  the  human  fe- 
male, once  in  about  four  weeks.  In  special  cases,  the 
interval  may  be  a  week  less  or  a  week  longer;  or  the 
variation  may  be  even  greater.  Dalton  describes  the 
process  as  follows: 

^'Wlien  the  expected  period  is  about  to  come  on, 
the  female  is  affected  by  a  certain  degree  of  discomfort 
and  lassitude,  a  sense  of  weight  in  the  pelvis,  and  more 
or  less  disinclination  to  society.  These  symptoms  are 
in  some  cases  slightly  pronounced,  in  others  more  trou- 
blesome.   An  unusual  discharge  of  vaginal  mucus  then 


124  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

begins  to  take  place,  which  soon  becomes  yellowish  or 
rusty  brown  in  color,  from  the  admixture  of  a  certain 
proportion  of  blood;  and  by  the  second  or  third  day, 
the  discharge  has  the  appearance  of  nearly  pure  blood. 
The  unpleasant  sensations  which  were  at  first  mani- 
fest, then  usually  subside;  and  the  discharge,  after 
continuing  for  a  certain  period,  begins  to  grow 
more  scanty.  Its  color  changes  from  a  pure  red  to 
a  brownish  or  rusty  tinge,  until  it  finally  disappears 
altogether,  and  the  female  returns  to  her  ordinary 
condition. ' ' 

The  menstrual  function  continues  active  from  pu- 
berty to  about  the  forty-fifth  year,  or  during  the  period 
of  fertility.  When  it  finally  disappears,  the  woman  is 
no  longer  capable  of  bearing  children.  The  time  of 
disappearance  is  termed  the  ''change  of  life,"  or 
menopause.  Exceptional  cases  occur  in  which  this 
period  is  greatly  hastened,  arriving  as  early  as  the 
thirty-fifth  year,  or  even  earlier.  Instances  have  also 
been  observed  in  which  menstruation  continued  as  late 
as  the  sixtieth  year,  and  even  later ;  but  such  cases  are 
very  rare;  and  if  procreation  occurs,  the  progeny  is 
feeble  and  senile. 

With  rare  exceptions,  the  function  is  suspended 
during  pregnancy,  and  usually,  also,  during  the  period 
of  nursing. 

Nature  of  Menstruation.— There  has  been  a  great 
amount  of  speculation  concerning  the  cause  and  nature 
of  the  menstrual  process.  No  entirely  satisfactory  con- 
clusions have  been  reached,  however,  except  that  it  is 
usually  accompanied  by  the  maturation  and  expulsion 
from  the  ovary  of  an  ovum,  which  is  termed  ovulation. 
But  menstruation  may  occur  without  ovulation,  and 
vice  versa. 


SEX    IN"    LIVING    FORMS  125 

Menstruation  is  not  peculiar  to  the  human  female, 
being  represented  in  the  higher  animals  by  what  is 
familiarly  termed  ''the  rut."  This  is  not  usually  a 
bloody  discharge,  however,  as  in  the  human  female, 
though  such  a  discharge  has  been  observed  in  the 
monkey. 

It  has  been  quite  satisfactorily  settled  that  the  dis- 
charge of  the  ovum  from  the  ovary  generally  takes 
place  about  the  time  of  the  cessation  of  the  flow.  Im- 
mediately after  the  discharge,  the  sexual  desires  of 
the  female  are  more  intense  than  at  other  times. 
This  fact  is  particularly  manifest  in  lower  animals. 
The  following  remark  by  Professor  Dalton  is  espe- 
cially significant  to  those  who  care  to  appreciate  its 
bearing : 

' '  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  in  this  connection,  that  the 
female  of  these  [domestic]  animals  will  allow  the  ap- 
proaches of  the  male  only  during  and  immediately  after 
the  oestrual  period  [rut] ;  that  is,  just  when  the  egg  is 
recently  discharged,  and  ready  for  impregnation.  At 
other  times,  when  sexual  intercourse  would  be  necessa- 
rily fruitless,  the  instinct  of  the  animal  leads  her  to 
avoid  it;  and  the  concourse  of  the  sexes  is  accordingly 
made  to  correspond  in  time  with  the  maturity  of  the 
egg  and  its  aptitude  for  fecundation." 

The  amount  of  fluid  lost  during  the  menstrual  flow 
varies  greatly  with  different  individuals.  It  is  esti- 
mated at  from  three  ounces  to  half  a  pint.  In  cases 
of  deranged  function,  it  may  be  much  greater  than  this. 
It  is  not  all  blood,  however,  a  considerable  portion  be- 
ing mucus.  It  is  rather  difficult  to  understand  why  the 
discharge  of  so  considerable  a  quantity  of  blood  is  re- 
quired. There  is  no  benefit  derived  from  a  very  copi- 
ous discharge,  as  some  suppose.     Facts  seem  to  indi- 


126  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

cate  that  in  general,  those  enjoy  the  best  health  who 
lose  but  small  quantities  of  blood  in  this  manner. 

Some  recent  observations  respecting  the  nature  of 
menstruation,  have  unsettled  the  old  theories  respect- 
ing this  function,  and  given  rise  to  much  discussion. 
The  most  plausible  theory,  and  one  which  differs  very 
materially  from  the  old,  is  that  of  Loewenthal.  The 
views  promulgated  by  this  author  are  of  so  much  in- 
terest that  we  take  this  opportunity  of  presenting  them 
at  some  length  in  the  following  translation  published 
in  the  Detroit  Lancet: 

1.  Menstruation  recurs  periodically.  It  is  marked 
by  an  individual  periodicity.  Any  deviation  from  the 
ordinary  rhythm  (due  to  strong  psychical  influences, 
changes  of  the  mode  of  life,  etc.)  will,  in  a  short  time 
after  removal  of  the  cause,  return  to  the  special  normal 
periodicity. 

2.  The  kind  and  duration  of  the  flow  is  different  in 
different  women. 

3.  Anatomical  and  physiological  changes  take  place 
in  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  uterus  as  follows: 

(a)  There  is  a  thickening  of  the  mucous  membrane, 
which  commences  about  ten  days  before  the  menstrua- 
tion, and  is  analogous  to  decidual  formation  in  the 
early  stages  of  pregnancy. 

(b)  During  the  flow,  disintegration  of  the  outer 
layer  of  the  mucous  membrane  takes  place,  which  is 
completed  in  ten  days. 

(c)  The  swelling  of  the  mucous  membrane  at  first 
takes  place  especially  in  the  outer  layer,  and  affects  the 
lymph  vessels,  which  are  dilated,  and  not  the  blood- 
vessels; the  latter  only  enlarge  at  a  later  period,  that 
is,  just  before  the  flow  commences.  Congestion  does 
not  cause  the  thickening  of  the  mucous  membrane. 


SEX    IN    LIVING    FORMS  127 

(d)  The  increase  in  the  thickness  of  the  mucous 
membrane  is  confined  to  the  body  of  the  uterus;  the 
cervix  is  not  involved. 

(e)  The  other  sexual  organs,  and  the  system  in 
general,  are  influenced  more  or  less  by  the  menstrual 
process.  The  ovaries  (one  or  the  other)  increase  in 
size,  due  to  a  ripe  Graafian  follicle  ready  to  burst. 
This  does  not  take  place  during  the  time  that  the  mem- 
brane swells,  but  at  the  time  of  the  flow  of  blood. 

During  the  menstrual  process  we  have  infiltration 
and  swelling  for  ten  days,  then  hemorrhage  for  four  to 
five  days,  and  finally  return  to  the  normal,  restitutio  ad 
integrum,  for  four  to  five  days,  the  whole  process 
occupying  about  twenty  days.  The  infiltration  and 
swelling  must,  under  all  circumstances,  be  looked  upon 
as  the  primary  impulse,  as  the  flow  of  blood  can 
only  take  place  after  the  former  has  existed  for  some 
time. 

As  the  different  theories  do  not  explain  the  many 
phenomena  of  menstruation,  especially  the  two  factors, 
—that  the  congestion  and  hemorrhage  cause  the  rup- 
ture of  a  Graafian  follicle,  or  that  the  latter  causes 
the  hemorrhage,— we  must  conclude  that  a  third  factor 
plays  an  important  part,  and  that  this  third  factor  is 
the  product  of  ovulation, — the  unimpregnated  ovule. 

The  whole  menstrual  process  might  be  considered 
as  follows: 

1.  The  Graafian  follicle  ruptures,  and  the  ovule 
passes  down  into  the  uterus. 

2.  In  the  first  appropriate  fold  of  the  uterine  mu- 
cous membrane  (generally  near  the  mouth  of  the  tube), 
the  ovule  is  imbedded,  and  causes  by  its  presence  a 
swelling  of  the  mucous  membrane;  that  is,  the  men- 
strual decidua. 


128  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOTJNG 

3.  If  the  ovule  becomes  impregnated,  tlie  menstrual 
decidua  is  developed  into  the  true  decidua  of  preg- 
nancy. 

4.  If  in  a  certain  time,  which  represents  its  vitality, 
the  ovule  is  not  impregnated,  it  dies,  and  thus  causes 
congestion  and  disintegration  of  the  menstrual  decidua ; 
that  is,  the  menstrual  flow. 

5.  The  congestion  reacts  on  the  cause  of  its  origin, 
the  ovaries,  and  brings  about  a  rupture  of  a  follicle, 
which,  in  the  meantime,  has  ripened.  (This  does  not 
exclude  any  other  cause  which  might  bring  about 
menstrual  congestion,  as  a  cause  of  a  ruptured 
follicle.) 

This  view  not  only  explains  all  contradiction,  but 
also  solves  many  doubtful  questions  in  a  satisfactory 
manner. 

The  basis  of  this  view  is : 

1.  That  the  unimpregnated  ovule  becomes  im- 
bedded. 

2.  That  after  this  imbedding,  and  only  then,  it  has 
a  certain  limited  individual  life  power. 

Many  objections  might  be  urged  against  this  theory. 
Some  authorities  claim  that  impregnation  always  takes 
place  at  the  ovary,  and  that  extra-uterine  pregnancy 
tends  to  prove  this;  but  as  extra-uterine  pregnancy 
occurs  once  in  ten  thousand  cases,  the  chances  are  ten 
thousand  to  one  that  impregnation  does  take  place  in 
the  uterus. 

The  following  conditions  are  necessary  for  the  im- 
bedding of  the  ovule  at  the  next  menstrual  process: 

1.  The  ovule  must  be  perfectly  ripe. 

2.  It  must  pass  from  the  follicle  at  a  time  when  it 
has  the  best  chance  to  soon  reach  the  uterus  through 
the  Fallopian  tubes  during  menstruation. 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FORMS 


3.  The  place  of  imbedding  must  be  ready,  and  pre- 
pared to  form  the  menstrual  decidua. 

If  these  conditions  are  not  present,  the  next  men- 
struation will  be  abnormal.  To  this  category  belongs 
amenorrhea. 

1.  No  ripe  ovule  is  developed,  or  it  is  of  diminished 
vitality,  and  consequently  is  not  imbedded;  or  if  im- 
bedded, after  a  few  hours  or  days  it  dies,  and  a  real 
menstrual  decidua  has  not  been  developed;  conse- 
quently no  hemorrhage  takes  place.  If  during  the 
short  time  the  ovule  is  in  the  uterus,  spermatozoa 
should  enter,  pregnancy  might  take  place,  which  ex- 
plains those  rare  cases  of  pregnancy  occurring  during 
amenorrhea.  During  lactation,  the  absence  of  or  weak 
ovules  would  explain  the  absence  of  menstruation,  and 
the  occasional  occurrence  of  pregnancy  at  this  time. 

2.  If  during  menstruation,  from  some  cause  no  ripe 
ovule  is  present,  none  can  be  imbedded,  no  menstrual 
decidua  is  formed,  and  the  next  menstrual  does  not 
appear.  The  menstrual  congestion  which  aids  the  de- 
velopment of  the  Graafian  follicle  and  ripening  of  the 
ovule  being  absent,  the  ovules  are  weak,  do  not  become 
imbedded,  or  if  they  do,  die  in  a  short  time.  The  amen- 
orrhea continues  until  a  strong,  healthy  ovule  is  again 
imbedded,  and  then  dies,  causing  the  menstruation. 
This  also  explains  why  pregnancy  can  occur  after  long- 
continued  amenorrhea. 

Cases  occur  where  two  or  more  causes  are  present 
to  prevent  imbedding  of  an  ovule,  and  to  cause  amen- 
orrhea. 

Anomalies  of  menstruation,  such  as  profuse  and 
irregularly  recurring  hemorrhages,  can  be  readily  ex- 
plained, as  they  have  no  connection  with  menstruation 
at  all,  in  fact,  often  occurring  during  amenorrhea,  and 


130  PLAIN    FACTS    FOB   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

are  due  to  other  diseases  (tumors,  ulcers,  displace- 
ments, etc.). 

The  following  points  also  go  to  prove  the  correct- 
ness of  the  view  that  the  ovule  becomes  imbedded,  etc. : 

Many  observers  have  recorded  that  young  girls, 
some  four  weeks  before  the  first  appearance  of  men- 
struation, have  all  the  nervous  symptoms  which  are 
found  later  with  every  recurring  menstruation.  A  ripe 
follicle  has  burst,  the  ovule  becomes  imbedded,  and  in 
four  weeks  causes  the  first  menstruation. 

Immediately  after  childbirth,  ovulation  and  imbed- 
ding may  take  place,  as  is  proved  by  the  occurrence 
of  pregnancy  a  few  weeks  after  childbirth,  and  before 
the  recurrence  of  menstruation.  The  irregularity  of 
menstruation  before  the  climacteric  period,  only  proves 
the  theory,  as  the  ovule  does  not  have  the  same  vital 
power,  and  the  thickening  of  the  membrane  often  pre- 
vents rupture  of  a  Graafian  follicle. 

The  experiments  of  Lawson  Tait  have  caused  him 
to  conclude  that  the  anticipated  climacteric  period 
always  occurs  with  certainty  when  both  tubes  are  re- 
moved. This  goes  to  prove  the  correctness  of  the 
Loewenthal  theory,  as  no  ovule  can  get  into  the  uterus, 
even  if  a  third  ovary  exist,  or  some  ovarian  stroma 
remains  behind,  and  consequently  menstruation  can- 
not occur. 

The  well-founded  fact  that  impregnation  is  most 
liable  to  occur  immediately  after  menstruation,  also 
tends  to  prove  the  correctness  of  the  theory,  as  the  fur- 
ther removed  from  menstruation,  the  less  vital  power 
is  possessed  by  the  ovule,  and  pregnancy  is  not  so  liable 
to  occur. 

The  theory  of  Loewenthal  leads  him  to  conclude  that 
menstruation  is  not  physiological,  but  pathological,  and 


SEX   IN    LIVING   FORMS  131 

not  necessary  to  health ;  that  menstrual  blood  is  normal 
blood,  and  does  not  contain  any  poisonous  substance 
that  must  be  eliminated  from  the  system ;  that  in  amen- 
orrhea, emmenagogues  are  useless  or  harmful,  as  some 
constitutional  disease  (chlorosis,  hysteria,  etc.)  causes 
amenorrhea;  but  the  latter  causes  no  disease  itself. 
Amenorrhea  simply  indicates  some  disease  of  the  sys- 
tem, and  should  be  looked  upon  as  a  powerful  aid  to  re- 
invigorate  the  body,  not  be  fought  as  a  foe.  A  woman 
is  not  healthy  because  she  menstruates,  but  in  spite  of 
it.  He  does  not  want  to  stop  all  women  from  menstru- 
ating, but  simply  suggests  a  reform  in  the  treatment 
of  the  disorders  of  menstruation.  He  reports  cases  of 
chronic  invalids  with  pain  and  nervous  disturbances 
after  menstruation,  which  had  been  subjected  to  all 
kinds  of  treatment  without  benefit,  until  he  lessened 
menstruation  by  quiet  and  hot  water  injections,  with 
wonderful  result.  The  cases  all  recovered,  although  he 
checked  menstruation  so  much  that  only  two  drams 
of  blood  were  lost. 

The  object  is  to  diminish  the  hemorrhage  as  much 
as  possible;  it  cannot  be  entirely  stopped,  as  the  decay 
of  the  menstrual  decidua  will  always  cause  some  bleed- 
ing, but  this  should  be  limited  to  a  discharge  of  bloody 
mucus. 

The  above  quotation  embodies  views  which  are  cer- 
tainly of  great  interest  from  a  variety  of  standpoints, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  they  may  be  confirmed  by 
further  observations. 

Extra-Uterine  Pregnancy.— Sometimes  the  o^nim 
becomes  fecundated  before  reaching  the  uterus,  and  in- 
stead of  passing  onward  into  that  organ  as  usual,  re- 
mains in  its  position  in  the  Fallopian  tube  or  even  on 
the  surface  of  the  ovary.    Occasionally  an  ovum  falls 


132  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

into  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen  instead  of  passing  into 
the  tube.  Even  in  this  situation  it  may  be  fecundated. 
Impregnated  ova  thus  left  in  abnormal  positions  un- 
dergo a  greater  or  less  degree  of  development.  They 
commonly  result  in  the  death  of  the  mother. 

Twins.— The  human  female  usually  matures  but  one 
ovum  at  each  menstrual  period,  the  two  ovaries  acting 
alternately.  Occasionally  two  ova  are  matured  at  once. 
If  fecundation  occurs,  the  result  will  be  a  development 
of  two  embryos  at  the  same  time.  In  rare  cases,  three 
or  even  four  ova  are  matured  at  once,  and  by  fe- 
cundation produce  a  corresponding  number  of  em- 
bryos. As  many  as  five  children  have  been  born  alive 
at  one  birth,  but  have  not  lived  more  than  a  few 
minutes. 

The  occurrence  of  multiple  pregnancies  may  be  ex- 
plained by  the  supjoosition  that  ova  matured  subsequent 
to  the  first  fecundation  are  also  fecundated. 

In  lower  animals,  the  uterus  is  often  divided  into 
two  long  segments,  which  afford  room  for  the  devel- 
oi^ment  of  a  number  of  young  at  once.  Some  ancient 
writers  make  most  absurd  statements  with  regard  to 
the  fecundity  of  women.  One  declares  that  the  simul- 
taneous birth  of  seven  or  eight  infants  by  the  same 
mother  was  an  ordinary  occurrence  with  Egj'-ptian 
women!  Other  statements  still  more  extravagant  are 
made  by  writers.  For  example :  A  traveler  in  the  sev- 
enteenth century  wrote  that  he  saw,  in  the  year  1630, 
in  a  church  near  The  Hague,  a  tablet  on  which  was  an 
inscription  stating  that  a  certain  noted  countess  gave 
birth  at  once,  in  the  year  1276,  to  365  infants,  who  were 
all  baptized  and  christened,  the  males  being  all  called 
John,  and  the  females,  Elizabeth.  They  all  died  on  the 
day  of  their  birth,  with  their  mother,  according  to  the 


SEX   IN    LIVING    FORMS  133 

account,  and  were  buried  in  tlie  church,  where  the  tablet 
was  erected  to  their  memory. 

Superfetation.— It  occasionally  happens  that  a 
child  is  born  of  the  same  mother  a  few  weeks  or  a  few 
months  subsequent  to  the  previous  childbirth,  but  not 
sufficiently  long  afterward  to  make  it  possible  to  con- 
sider the  second  child  the  result  of  a  second  period  of 
gestation.  These  curious  cases  are  accounted  for  by  the 
supposition  that  superfetation  may  occasionally  occur, 
that  is,  the  second  ovule  may  pass  down  into  the  womb, 
and  become  impregnated,  some  time  after  the  devel- 
oi)ment  of  the  first  has  begun.  This  certainly  must 
be  a  very  unusual  circumstance,  but  that  it  has  occurred, 
is  attested  by  testimony  which  cannot  be  doubted.  In 
one  case,  reported  by  Dr.  Janeway,  surgeon  in  the  late 
war,  one  of  two  infants  born  of  a  mulatto  mother  under 
these  peculiar  circumstances  was  a  negro,  while  the 
other  was  nearly  white,— a  fact  which  offered  the  most 
indisputable  evidence,  not  only  of  the  distinct  paternity 
of  the  two  infants  as  to  time,  but  also  as  to  individuals. 

Monsters.— Defects  and  abnormalities  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  embryo  produce  all  degrees  of  deviation 
from  the  typical  human  form.  Excessive  development 
may  result  in  an  extra  finger  or  toe,  or  in  the  pro- 
duction of  some  peculiar  excrescence.  Deficiency  of 
development  may  produce  all  degrees  of  abnormality, 
from  the  simple  hair-lip  to  the  most  frightful  deficiency, 
as  the  absence  of  a  limb,  or  even  of  a  head.  It  is  in 
this  manner  that  those  unfortunate  individuals  known 
as  hermaphrodites  are  formed.  An  excessive  develop- 
ment of  some  parts  of  the  female  generative  organs 
gives  them  a  great  degree  of  similarity  to  the  external 
organs  of  the  male.  A  deficient  development  of  the 
masculine  organs  renders  them  similar  in  appearance  to 


134  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

those  of  the  female.  Excessive  development,  shown  in 
a  peculiar  manner,  produces  both  kinds  of  organs  in 
the  same  individuals  in  a  state  more  or  less  complete. 

Such  curious  cases  as  the  Carolina  twins  and  Chang 
and  Eng  were  formerly  supposed  to  be  the  result  of 
the  union  of  two  separate  individuals.  It  is  now  be- 
lieved that  they  are  developed  from  a  single  ovum.  It 
has  been  observed  that  the  primitive  trace  (described 
in  a  previous  section)  sometimes  undergoes  partial 
division  longitudinally.  If  it  splits  a  little  at  the  an- 
terior end,  the  individual  will  have  a  single  body  with 
two  heads.  If  a  partial  division  occurs  at  each  end, 
the  resulting  being  will  possess  two  heads  and  two  pairs 
of  legs  joined  to  a  single  body.  More  complete  division 
produces  a  single  trunk  with  two  heads,  two  pairs  of 
arms  and  two  pairs  of  legs,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Caro- 
lina twins.  Still  more  complete  division  may  result  in 
the  formation  of  two  perfect  individuals  almost  entirely 
independent  of  each  other,  physiologically,  but  united 
by  a  narrow  band,  as  in  the  remarkable  Siamese  twins, 
Chang  and  Eng. 

Strange  Freaks  of  Development.— In  a  curious 
case  reported  not  a  great  while  ago,  a  partially  devel- 
oped infant  was  amputated  from  the  cheek  of  a  child 
some  time  after  birth. 

A  few  cases  have  been  reported  in  which  partially 
developed  human  beings  have  been  found  in  various 
parts  of  the  bodies  of  individuals,  which  were  not  pro- 
duced by  any  reproductive  process,  as  they  have  been 
found  in  individuals  of  both  sexes.  These  remarkable 
cases  are  undoubtedly  the  result  of  the  inclosure  of  one 
embryo  within  another. 

The  precise  cause  of  these  strange  modifications  of 
development  is  as  yet,  in  a  great  degree,  a  mystery. 


SEX    IN    LIVING   FORMS  135 

Hybrids.— It  is  a  well-known  law  of  biology  that  no 
progeny  result  from  union  of  animals  of  different  spe- 
cies. Different  varieties  of  races  of  the  same  species 
may  form  a  fertile  union,  the  result  of  which  is  a  cross 
between  its  two  parents,  possessing  some  of  the  quali- 
ties of  each.  Such  a  cross  is  called  a  mongrel.  All  the 
varieties  of  dogs  are  produced  by  crossing  different 
races,  and  so  are  mongrels.  The  various  mixed  races 
of  men,  such  as  mulattoes  and  half-breeds,  are  also 
mongrels.  The  mule  is  the  product  of  a  union  between 
the  horse  and  the  ass,  and  is  a  true  hybrid.  The  off- 
spring of  hybrids  are  sterile,  almost  without  exception ; 
for  the  reason  that  they  do  not  produce  mature  ele- 
ments of  generation.  In  the  mule,  the  zoosperms  are 
either  entirely  absent,  or  else  very  imperfectly  devel- 
oped; hence  the  fact  that  a  colt  having  a  mule  for  its 
sire  is  one  of  the  rarest  of  curiosities,  though  a  few  in- 
stances have  been  reported.  This  is  a  wise  law  of 
nature  to  preserve  the  purity  of  species. 

Law  of  Sex.— If  there  is  a  law  by  which  the  sex  of 
the  developing  embryo  is  determined,  it  probably  has 
not  yet  been  discovered.  The  influence  of  the  will,  the 
predominant  vitality  of  one  or  the  other  of  the  parents, 
and  the  period  at  which  conception  occurs,  have  all 
been  supposed  to  be  the  determining  cause.  A  German 
physician  some  time  since  advanced  the  theory  that  the 
two  testicles  and  ovaries  produce  elements  of  different 
sexual  character,  the  right  testicle  forming  zoosperms 
capable  of  producing  only  males,  and  the  right  ovary 
producing  ova  with  the  same  peculiarity".  The  left  testi- 
cle and  the  left  ovary  he  supposed  to  form  the  female 
elements.  He  claimed  to  have  proved  his  theory  by  ex- 
periments upon  animals.  Even  if  true,  this  theory  will 
not  be  made  of  practical  importance.     It  is,  in  fact, 


136  PLAIN    PACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

nothing  more  than  a  revival  of  an  old  theory  held  by 
physicians  who  flourished  more  than  two  thousand 
years  ago. 

Controlling  Sex.— More  recently  another  German 
physician  has  advanced  the  theory  that  the  sex  may 
be  controlled  at  will  by  observing  the  time  of  fecunda- 
tion. He  asserts  that  when  fecundation  occurs  shortly 
after  menstruation,  the  result  will  be  a  female;  but  if 
impregnation  occurs  later  in  the  month,  and  prior  to 
the  three  or  four  days  preceding  the  next  menstrual 
period,  a  male  will  almost  certainly  be  produced.  This 
theory  was  proposed  by  Professor  Thury,  of  the  acad- 
emy of  Geneva,  who  claims  to  have  thoroughly  tested 
it  in  a  great  variety  of  ways,  and  always  with  an  af- 
firmative result. 

Floss,  an  eminent  European  author,  claims  to  show 
by  a  comparison  of  the  statistics  of  male  and  female 
births  in  various  countries,  that  sex  depends  largely 
upon  the  food  supply,  females  being  relatively  most 
numerous  when  food  is  abundant,  while  males  pre- 
dominate during  periods  of  scarcity  of  food.  Some 
curious  experiments  were  made  a  few  years  ago  by  a 
learned  entomologist,  in  the  feeding  of  the  larva  of 
insects,  which  seemed  to  indicate  that  those  larva  which 
received  the  most  food  developed  into  females,  while 
those  which  had  the  least  food  developed  into  males. 
Facts  well  known  to  bee-keepers  also  indicate  that  an 
extra  supply  of  food  and  better  opportunities  for  devel- 
opment, is  possibly  the  principal  cause  which  gives  ori- 
gin to  sexually  perfect  bees  from  larva  which  would 
otherwise  produce  ordinary  workers. 

The  facts  just  given  would  seem  to  support  the 
theory  of  Floss,  but  the  equally  eminent  Dr.  Preussen 


SEX   IxV    LIVING    FORMS  139 

maintains  that  males,  and  not  females,  are  the  result 
of  a  better  food  supply  to  the  mother. 

The  persistent  failure  of  the  czar  and  czarina  of 
Russia  to  provide  a  legitimate  male  heir  to  the  throne, 
despite  all  scientific  formulas,  is  a  discouraging  com- 
ment on  any  theory  of  absolute  certainty. 

Statistics  collected  in  Germany  show  that  when  the 
mother  is  older  than  the  father,  the  number  of  female 
births  is  considerably  in  excess.  This  is  equally  true 
when  the  father  and  mother  are  of  the  same  age.  When 
the  father's  age  is  in  excess  of  that  of  the  mother,  the 
male  births  are  in  excess  of  the  females,  the  propor- 
tion of  cases  increasing  with  the  predominance  of  the 
father's  age  above  that  of  the  mother.  This  would 
seem  to  agree  perfectly  with  the  well-known  fact  that 
male  births  are  usually  slightly  in  excess  of  the  female. 
This  theory  would  be  the  natural  result  of  the  prevail- 
ing custom  in  society  by  which  the  age  of  the  husband 
usually  exceeds  that  of  the  wife. 

Some  poultry  breeders  claim  that  mating  a  cockerel 
with  hens  produces  more  female  than  male  chickens; 
while  mating  a  cock  with  pullets  results  in  more  males 
than  females,  conditions  of  constitutional  vigor  and 
local  health  being  equal;  otherwise,  the  results  are 
uncertain. 

Circumcision.— The  fold  of  integument  called  the 
prepuce,  which  has  been  previously  described,  has  upon 
its  inner  surface  a  large  number  of  glands  which  pro- 
duce a  peculiar  secretion.  Under  certain  circum- 
stances, and  from  inattention  to  personal  cleanliness, 
this  secretion  may  accumulate,  and  then  often  becomes 
the  cause  of  irritation  and  serious  disease.  To  pre- 
vent such  disorders,  and  to  insure  cleanliness,  the  Jew- 
ish law  required  the  removal  of  the  prepuce,  which 

9 


140  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

constituted  the  rite  of  circumcision.  The  same  practice 
is  followed  by  several  modern  nations  dwelling  in 
tropical  climates;  and  it  can  scarcely  be  doubted  that 
it  is  a  very  salutary  one,  and  has  contributed  very  mate- 
rially to  the  maintenance  of  that  proverbial  national 
health  for  which  the  Jews  are  celebrated.  Eminent 
physicians  have  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  practice 
would  be  a  salutary  one  for  all  men. 

It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  as  much  harm  as 
good  does  not  result  from  circumcision,  since  it  has 
been  shown  by  extensive  observation  among  the  Jews 
that  very  great  contraction  of  the  meatus,  or  external 
orifice  of  the  urethra,  is  exceedingly  common  among 
them,  being  undoubtedly  the  result  of  the  prolonged 
irritation  and  subsequent  cicatricial  contraction  result- 
ing from  circumcision  in  infancy. 

The  maintenance  of  scrupulous  cleammess,  by  daily 
cleansing,  is  an  imperative  duty. 

In  some  countries,  females  are  also  circumcised  by 
removal  of  the  nymphae.  The  object  is  the  same  as 
that  of  circumcision  in  the  male.  The  same  evils  result 
from  inattention  to  local  cleanliness,  and  the  same  meas- 
ure of  prevention,  daily  cleansing,  is  necessitated  by 
a  similar  secretion.  Local  cleanliness  is  neglected  by 
both  sexes.  Daily  washing  should  begin  with  infancy, 
and  continue  through  life,  and  will  prevent  much 
disease. 

Castration.— This  operation  consists  in  the  re- 
moval of  the  testes  of  the  male.  It  does  not  at  once 
obliterate  the  sexual  sense,  especially  if  performed 
after  puberty,  but  of  course  renders  the  individual  im- 
potent, or  incapable  of  reproduction.  Persons  upon 
whom  it  has  been  performed  are  called  eunuchs.  It 
was  a  very  common  custom  in  ancient  times,  being 


T 


SEX   IN"   LIVING   FORMS  141 

usually  prompted  by  the  jealousy  of  rulers,  who  al- 
lowed no  males  but  eunuchs  to  associate  with  their  wives 
and  concubines.  The  effect  upon  the  male  is  to  render 
him  effeminate  in  appearance  and  weak  in  mind.  If 
performed  before  puberty,  the  growth  of  the  beard  is 
scanty,  and  the  voice  never  acquires  that  deepness  of 
tone  natural  to  the  masculine  voice. 

Spaying.— An  analogous  operation,  termed  spay- 
ing, is  performed  upon  females,  consisting  in  the  re- 
moval of  the  ovaries;  effects  similar  to  those  in  the 
male,  sterility  without  entire  immediate  loss  of  sexual 
sense,  being  the  usual  result.  Spaying  is  much  more 
frequently  performed  than  castration,  and  is  now  em- 
ployed as  a  means  of  relieving  certain  forms  of  in- 
tractable disease  of  the  womb  and  ovaries.  The  credit 
of  first  employing  this  operation  in  cases  of  this  kind 
is  due  to  Dr.  Battey,  of  Georgia.  Castration  is  still 
practiced  in  some  Eastern  countries. 


SEXUAL  HYGIENE 


JUST  in  proportion  as  the  perpetuation  of  the  race 
is  more  important  than  the  existence  of  any  sin- 
gle individual,  the  organs  of  reproduction  may 
in  a  certain  sense  be  said  to  rank  higher  than  any 
other  portions  of  the  human  frame,  since  to  them  is 
intrusted  the  important  duty  of  performing  that  most 
marvelous  of  all  vital  processes,  the  production  of 
human  beings.  That  this  high  rank  in  the  vital  econ- 
omy is  recognized  by  nature,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
she  has  attached  to  the  abuse  of  the  generative  func- 
tion the  most  terrible  penalties  which  can  be  inflicted 
upon  a  living  being.  The  power  of  abuse  seems  to  be 
almost  exclusively  confined  to  man ;  hence,  we  find  him 
about  the  only  one  of  all  living  creatures  subject  to 
the  awful  penalties  of  sexual  transgression. 

The  use  of  the  rej)roductive  function  is  perhaps  the 
highest  purely  physical  act  of  which  man  is  capable; 
its  abuse  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  grievous  out- 
rages against  nature  which  it  is  possible  for  him  to 
perpetrate.  No  observing  person  can  doubt  that  the 
sexual  relations  of  men  and  women  determine  in  a 
great  degree  their  happiness  or  misery  in  life.  This 
subject,  then,  deserves  due  attention  and  careful  con- 
sideration. It  is  of  no  use  to  scout  it;  for  it  will  in- 
evitably obtrude  itself  upon  us,  no  matter  how  sedu- 
lously we  attempt  to  avoid  it.  It  can  be  rightly  con- 
sidered only  with  the  most  perfect  candor,  with  the 

142 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  143 


mind  unbiased  by  passion,  and  prayerfully  anxious  to 
know  and  do  what  is  right. 

In  the  following  paragraphs  of  this  section  are 
considered  some  of  the  evils  out  of  which  grows  much 
of  the  sexual  suffering  of  men  and  women: 

Sexual  Precocity.— There  are  two  periods  in  hu- 
man life  when  the  sexual  instincts  should  be  totally 
dormant ;  and  they  are  so  when  nature  is  not  perverted. 
The  first  is  the  period  reaching  from  infancy  to 
puberty.  The  second  is  the  period  reached  in  ad- 
vanced age. 

If  raised  strictly  in  accordance  with  natural  law, 
children  would  have  no  sexual  notions  or  feelings  be- 
fore the  occurrence  of  puberty.  No  prurient  specula- 
tion about  sexual  matters  would  enter  their  minds. 
Until  that  period,  the  reproductive  system  should  lie 
dormant  in  its  undeveloped  state.  No  other  feeling 
should  be  exhibited  between  the  sexes  than  that  broth- 
erly and  sisterly  affection  which  is  so  admirable  and 
becoming. 

Fortunate,  indeed,  would  it  be  for  humanity  if  this 
natural  state  always  existed;  but  it  is  a  lamentable 
fact  that  it  is  rarely  seen  in  modern  homes.  Not  infre- 
quently, evidences  of  sexual  passion  are  manifested 
before  the  child  has  hardly  learned  to  walk.  It  has 
been  suggested  that  this  precocity  is  nothing  remark- 
able or  unnatural,  since  it  is  often  seen  in  little  lambs 
and  other  young  animals.  To  this  it  is  only  necessary 
to  reply  that  the  development  of  the  sexual  instincts 
perfectly  corresponds  with  the  longevity  of  the  animal ; 
if  short-lived,  like  the  sheep,  only  a  short  period  inter- 
venes between  birth  and  the  attainment  of  the  sexual 
instinct  and  virility.  If  the  animal  is  intended  for  long 
life,  as  is  the  case  with  man,  these  manifestations  are 


144  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

delayed  until  a  much  later  period,  or  should  be.  Cer- 
tain insects  perform  the  sexual  act  as  soon  as  they 
acquire  their  perfect  form;  but  they  perish  as  soon  as 
the  act  is  completed. 

It  is  astonishing  how  ignorant  and  indifferent  the 
majority  of  people  are  upon  this  subject.  A  friend 
related  to  us  an  incident  which  fairly  illustrates  the 
terrible  apathy  which  prevails  among  parents.  While 
teaching  a  country  school,  he  learned  that  a  large  num- 
ber of  children,  boys  and  girls,  of  ages  varying  from 
eight  to  twelve  and  fourteen  years,  were  in  the  habit 
of  collecting  together  in  barns  and  other  secluded 
places,  and  in  a  state  of  nudity  imitating  the  ''Black 
Crook,"  wifh  all  possible  additional  nastiness.  Horri- 
fied at  such  a  monstrous  evil,  he  hastened  to  inform  the 
parents  of  the  corruption  in  their  midst.  Imagine  his 
astonishment  when  he  was  met  with  an  indifferent 
laugh,  and  the  response,  "Pooh!  it's  only  natural;  per- 
fectly harmless;  just  like  little  pigs!"— as  though  pigs 
were  models  for  human  beings ! 

It  is  not  pleasant  to  consider  what  must  have  been 
the  moral  status  of  parents  who  could  hold  such  views ; 
and  it  is  no  wonder  that  they  should  produce  such 
children.  Doubtless,  they  learned  too  late  that  those 
"natural"  manifestations  were  the  outgrowth  of  in- 
cipient vices,  planted  and  fostered  by  themselves,  which 
in  later  years  destroyed  shame,  and  gave  loose  rein 
to  lust. 

Often  the  manifestation  of  sexual  precocity  is  less 
gross,  but  almost  equally  fraught  with  danger,  never- 
theless. Dr.  Acton,  a  distinguished  English  surgeon, 
whom  we  shall  frequently  quote,  makes  the  following 
excellent  remarks  upon  this  subject: 

"Slight  signs  are  sufficient  to  indicate  when  a  boy 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  145 


has  this  unfortunate  tendency.  He  shows  marked  pref- 
erences. You  will  see  him  single  out  one  girl,  and 
evidently  derive  an  unusual  pleasure  (for  a  boy)  in 
her  society.  His  penchant  does  not  take  the  ordinary 
form  of  a  boy's  good  nature,  but  little  attentions  that 
are  generally  reserved  for  a  later  period  prove  that 
his  feeling  is  different  and  sadly  premature.  He  may 
be  apparently  healthy,  and  fond  of  playing  with  other 
boys ;  still,  there  are  slight,  but  ominous,  indications  of 
propensities  fraught  with  danger  to  himself.  His  play 
with  the  girl  is  different  from  his  play  with  his  broth- 
ers. His  kindness  to  her  is  a  little  too  ardent.  He 
follows  her,  he  does  not  know  why.  He  fondles  her 
with  a  tenderness  painfully  suggestive  of  a  vague 
dawning  of  passion.  No  one  can  find  fault  with  him. 
He  does  nothing  wrong.  Parents  and  friends  are  de- 
lighted at  his  gentleness  and  politeness,  and  not  a  little 
amused  at  the  early  flirtation.  If  they  were  wise,  they 
would  rather  feel  profound  anxiety;  and  he  would  be 
an  unfaithful  or  unwise  medical  friend  who  did  not, 
if  an  opportunity  occurred,  warn  them  that  such  a  boy, 
unsuspicious  and  innocent  as  he  is,  ought  to  be  care- 
fully watched  and  removed  from  every  influence  cal- 
culated to  foster  his  abnormal  propensities. 

*  *  The  premature  development  of  the  sexual  inclina- 
tion is  not  alone  repugnant  to  all  we  associate  with  the 
term  childhood,  but  is  also  fraught  with  danger  to 
dawning  manliood.  On  the  judicious  treatment  of  a 
case  such  as  has  been  sketched,  it  probably  depends 
whether  the  dangerous  propensity  shall  be  so  kept  in 
check  as  to  preserve  the  boy's  health  and  innocence,  or 
whether  one  more  shattered  constitution  and  wounded 
conscience  shall  be  added  to  the  victims  of  sexual  pre- 
cocity and  careless  training.     It  ought  not  to  be  for- 


146  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

gotten  that  in  such  cases  a  quasi-sexual  power  often 
accompanies  these  premature  sexual  inclinations.  Few, 
perhaps,  except  medical  men,  know  how  early  in  life 
a  mere  infant  may  experience  erections.  Frequently, 
it  may  be  noticed  that  a  little  child,  on  being  taken  out 
of  bed  in  the  morning,  cannot  make  water  at  once.  It 
would  be  well  if  it  were  recognized  by  parents  and 
nurses  that  this  often  depends  upon  a  more  or  less  com- 
plete erection." 

We  have  been  not  more  disgusted  than  shocked  to 
see  parents,  whose  intelligence  ought  to  teach  them 
better,  not  only  winking  at,  but  actually  encouraging, 
these  premature  manifestations  of  passion  in  their  chil- 
dren. They  may  yet  learn,  by  bitter  experience,  the 
folly  of  their  course,  unless  they  make  the  discovery  in 
time  to  avert  the  calamitous  results  which  threaten  the 
future  of  their  children,  by  careful  reformatory 
training. 

It  is  important  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  this  pre- 
cocity. Said  a  father  of  our  acquaintance,  when  re- 
monstrated with  for  encouraging  his  infant  son  in  a 
ridiculous  flirtation,  ^'I  did  just  so  when  I  was  of  his 
age."  In  this  case  the  cause  was  evident.  The  child 
was  only  acting  out  the  disposition  bequeathed  him 
by  his  parent.  How  often  do  the  secret  follies  of  par- 
ents stand  out  in  bold  relief  in  their  children.  Such  a 
legacy  is  nothing  to  be  proud  of. 

We  again  quote  from  Dr.  Acton  some  observations 
on  the  causes  of  this  disorder,— for  a  grave  disorder 
it  is,— as  follows: 

*'I  should  specify  hereditary  predisposition  as  by 
no  means  the  least  common.  ...  I  believe  that,  as  in 
body  and  mind,  so  also  in  the  passions,  the  sins  of  the 
father  are  frequently  visited  on  the  children.    No  man 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  147 


or  woman,  I  am  sure,  can  have  habitually  indulged  the 
sexual  passions  .  .  „  without,  at  least,  running  the  risk 
of  finding  that  a  disposition  to  follow  a  similar  career 
has  been  inherited  by  the  offspring.  It  is  in  this  way 
only  that  we  can  explain  the  early  and  apparently 
almost  irresistible  propensity  in  generation  after  gen- 
eration to  indulge  similar  habits  and  feelings." 

Various  Causes  of  Sexual  Precocity.— Another 
very  powerful  predisposing  cause  of  sexual  precocity 
will  be  alluded  to  under  the  head  of  "  Marital  Ex- 
cesses." The  irritation  caused  by  worms  in  the  rec- 
tum, by  local  irritation  or  uncleanliness,  or  by  irrita- 
tion of  the  bladder,  are  exciting  causes  which  are  not 
infrequent.  The  latter  cause  is  indicated  by  another 
symptom,  the  frequent  wetting  of  the  bed  at  night. 
Such  a  svmptom  doubly  demands  immediate  attention. 

The  juvenile  parties  so  common  nowadays,  where 
little  ones  of  both  sexes,  of  ages  varying  from  four  or 
five  years  to  ten  or  twelve,  with  wonderful  precocity 
and  truthfulness,  imitate  the  conduct  of  their  elders  at 
fashionable  dinners,  cannot  be  too  much  deprecated. 
Such  associations  of  the  sexes  have  a  strong  tendency 
to  develop  prematurely  the  distinctive  peculiarities  of 
the  sexes.  This  is  well  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  on 
such  occasions  one  of  the  most  common  and  popular 
entertainments  is  sham  marriages.  Parents  greatly 
err  in  encouraging  or  allowing  their  children  to  engage 
in  amusements  of  so  dangerous  a  character.  They  are 
productive  of  no  good,  and  are  almost  without  excep- 
tion productive  of  positive  and  serious  injury. 

Modern  modes  of  life,  improper  clothing,  the  forc- 
ing system  of  cramming  in  schools,  the  immodest  ex- 
ample of  older  persons,  and  especially  the  irritating, 
stimulating  articles  of  diet  which  are  daily  set  before 


148  PLAIN    PACTS   POR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

children,  as  well  as  older  people,  undoubtedly  have  a 
powerful  influence  in  stimulating  the  development  of 
the  sexual  passions.  This  subject  is  again  referred  to 
under  the  heading,  "Chastity." 

Obscene  books  and  papers,  lewd  pictures,  and  evil 
communications  are  telling  causes  which  will  be  further 
noticed  elsewhere. 

Senile  Sensuality.— As  with  childhood,  old  age 
is  a  period  in  which  the  reproductive  functions  are 
quiescent,  unless  unnaturally  stimulated.  Sexual  life 
begins  with  puberty,  and,  in  the  female,  ends  at  about 
the  age  of  forty-five  years,  at  the  period  known  as  the 
menopause,  or  turn  of  life.  At  this  period,  according 
to  the  plainest  indications  of  nature,  all  functional 
activity  should  cease.  If  this  law  is  disregarded,  dis- 
ease, premature  decay,  possibly  local  degenerations, 
will  be  sure  to  result.  Nature  cannot  be  abused  with 
impunity. 

The  generative  power  of  the  male  is  retained  some- 
what longer  than  that  of  the  female,  and  by  stimulation 
may  be  indulged  at  quite  an  advanced  age,  but  only  at 
the  expense  of  shortening  life,  and  running  the  risk  of 
sudden  death.  Says  Parise,  ''One  of  the  most  impor- 
tant pieces  of  information  which  a  man  in  years  can 
attain,  is  'to  learn  to  become  old  betimes,'  if  he  wishes 
to  attain  old  age.  Cicero,  we  are  told,  was  asked  if  he 
still  indulged  in  the  pleasures  of  love.  'Heaven  for- 
bid!' replied  he;  'I  have  forsworn  it  as  I  would  a 
savage  and  a  furious  master.'  " 

Some  learned  physicians  place  the  proper  limit  of 
man's  functional  activity  at  fifty  years,  if  he  would  not 
render  himself  guilty  of  shortening  his  days  by  sen- 
suality. Other  reasons  for  this  course  will  appear 
hereafter. 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  149 


Satyriasis. —A^VTien  the  passions  have  been  in- 
dulged, and  their  diminishing  vigor  stimulated,  a  hor- 
rid disease,  satyriasis,  not  infrequently  seizes  upon 
the  imprudent  individual,  and  drives  him  to  the  per- 
petration of  the  most  loathsome  crimes  and  excesses. 
Passions  cultivated  and  encouraged  by  gratification 
through  life,  will  thus  sometimes  assert  a  total  suprem- 
acy in  old  age. 


MARRIAGE 


The  scope  and  plan  of  this  work  will  allow  of  but 
the  briefest  possible  consideration  of  this  subject,  upon 
which  volumes  have  been  written,  and  much  to  no  pur- 
pose, other  than  the  multiplication  of  books.  We  shall 
devote  no  space  to  a  consideration  of  the  origin  of  the 
institution,  its  expediency,  or  varied  relations,  as  these 
topics  are  foreign  to  the  character  of  this  work. 

The  first  jDhysiological  question  to  be  considered 
is  concerning  the  proper  age  for  marriage. 

Time  to  Marry.— Physiology  fixes  with  accuracy 
the  earliest  period  at  which  marriage  is  admissible. 
This  period  is  that  at  which  the  body  attains  complete 
development,  which  is  not  before  twenty  in  the  female, 
and  twenty-four  in  the  male.  Even  though  the  growth 
may  be  completed  before  these  ages,  ossification  of  the 
bones  is  not  fully  effected,  so  that  development  is  in- 
complete. 

Among  most  modern  nations,  the  civil  laws  fixing 
the  earliest  date  of  marriage  seem  to  have  been  made 
without  any  reference  to  physiology,  or  with  the  mis- 
taken notion  that  puberty  and  nubility  are  identical. 
It  is  interesting  to  note  the  different  ages  established 


150  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

by  different  nations  for  the  entrance  of  the  married 
state.  The  degenerating  Romans  fixed  the  ages  of 
legal  marriage  at  thirteen  for  females,  and  fifteen  for 
males.  The  Grecian  legislator,  Lycurgus,  placed  the 
ages  at  seventeen  for  the  female,  and  thirty-seven  for 
the  male.  Plato  fixed  the  ages  at  twenty  and  thirty 
years.  In  Prussia,  the  respective  ages  are  fifteen  and 
nineteen;  in  Austria,  sixteen  and  twenty;  in  France, 
sixteen  and  eighteen,  respectively. 

Says  Mayer,  "In  general,  it  may  be  established 
that  the  normal  epoch  for  marriage  is  the  twentieth 
year  for  women,  and  the  twenty-fourth  for  men.'* 

Application  of  the  Law  of  Heredity,— A  mo- 
ment's consideration  of  the  physiology  of  heredity  will 
disclose  a  sufficient  reason  why  marriage  should  be 
deferred  until  the  development  of  the  body  is  wholly 
complete.  The  matrimonial  relation  implies  repro- 
duction. Reproduction  is  effected  through  the  union 
of  the  ovum  with  the  zoosperm.  These  elements,  as 
we  have  already  seen,  are  complete  representatives  of 
the  individuals  producing  them.  The  perfection  of 
the  new  being,  then,  must  be  largely  dependent  on  the 
integrity  and  perfection  of  the  sexual  elements.  If 
the  body  is  still  incomplete,  the  reproductive  elements 
must  also  be  incomplete;  and,  in  consequence,  the 
progeny  must  be  equally  immature. 

Early  Marriage.— The  preceding  paragraph  con- 
tains a  sufficient  reason  for  condemning  early  mar- 
riage; that  is,  marriage  before  the  ages  mentioned. 
It  is  probable  that  even  the  ages  of  twenty  and  twenty- 
four  are  too  early  for  those  persons  whose  develop- 
ment is  uncommonly  slow.  But  there  are  other  cogent 
reasons  for  discountenancing  early  marriages,  also 
drawn  from  the  physiology  of  reproduction,  to  say 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  151 


nothing  of  the  many  reasons  which  might  be  urged  on 
other  grounds. 

1.  During  the  development  of  the  body,  all  its  ener- 
gies are  required  in  perfecting  the  various  tissues  and 
organs.  There  is  no  material  to  be  spared  for  any 
foreign  purpose. 

2.  The  reproductive  act  is  the  most  exhaustive  of  all 
vital  acts.  Its  effect  upon  an  undeveloped  person  is  to 
retard  growth,  weaken  the  constitution,  and  dwarf  the 
intellect. 

3.  The  effects  upon  the  female  are  even  worse  than 
those  upon  the  male ;  for,  in  addition  to  the  exhaustion 
of  nervous  energy,  she  is  compelled  to  endure  the  bur- 
dens and  pains  of  child-bearing  when  utterly  unpre- 
pared for  such  a  task,  to  say  nothing  of  her  unfitness 
for  the  other  duties  of  a  mother.  With  so  many  girl- 
mothers  in  the  land,  is  it  any  wonder  that  there  are 
so  many  thousands  of  unfortunate  individuals  who 
never  seem  to  get  beyond  childhood  in  their  develop- 
ment? Many  a  man  at  forty  years  is  as  childish  in 
mind,  and  as  immature  in  judgment,  as  a  well-devel- 
oped lad  of  eighteen  should  be.  They  are  like  withered 
fruit  plucked  before  it  was  ripe ;  they  can  never  become 
like  the  mellow  and  luscious  fruit  allowed  to  mature 
properly.  They  are  unalterably  molded ;  and  the  sad- 
dest fact  of  all  is  that  they  will  give  to  their  children 
the  same  imperfections;  and  the  children  will  trans- 
mit them  to  another  generation,  and  so  the  evil  will 
go  on  increasing,  unless  checked  by  extinction  of  the 
line. 

Mutual  Adaptation.— Another  question  of  very 
great  importance  is  that  of  the  mutual  adaptation  of 
individuals.  To  this  question  we  can  devote  but  a  very 
brief  consideration,  and  that  will  be  more  of  the  nature 


152  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

of  criticism  than  of  a  set  of  formal  rules  for  governing 
matrimonial  alliances. 

A  Dangerous  Doctrine.— A  writer  of  some  note^ 
whose  work  on  this  and  kindred  subjects  has  had  quite 
an  extensive  circulation,  advocates  with  great  emphasis 
the  theory  that  parties  contemplating  marriage  should 
in  all  cases  select  for  partners,  individuals  as  nearly- 
like  themselves  as  possible.  Exact  duplicates  would, 
in  his  opinion,  make  the  most  perfect  union  attainable. 
To  make  his  theory  practicable,  he  is  obliged  to  fall 
back  upon  phrenology ;  and  directs  that  a  man  seeking 
a  wife,  or  a  woman  seeking  a  husband,  should  obtain 
a  phrenological  chart  of  his  head,  and  then  send  it 
around  until  a  counterpart  is  found.  If  the  circle  of 
one's  acquaintance  is  so  fortunate  as  to  contain  no  one 
cursed  with  the  same  propensities  or  idiosyncrasies  as 
himself,  the  newspapers  are  to  be  brought  into  requi- 
sition as  a  medium  of  advertising. 

If  so  strange  a  doctrine  as  this  were  advocated  by 
an  obscure  individual  in  some  secluded  hamlet,  or 
found  only  in  the  musty  volumes  of  some  forgotten 
author,  it  surely  would  be  unworthy  of  notice;  but 
coming  as  it  does  from  a  quite  popular  writer,  and 
being  coupled  with  a  great  amount  of  really  valuable 
truth,  it  is  sufficiently  important  to  deserve  refutation. 
A  brief  glance  at  the  practical  working  of  the  theory 
will  be  a  sufficient  exposure  of  its  falsity. 

According  to  this  rule,  a  man  or  woman  of  large 
combativeness  should  select  a  partner  equally  inclined 
to  antagonism ;  then  we  should  have  —  what  ?  the  ele- 
ments of  a  happy,  contented,  harmonious  life?— No; 
instead,  either  a  speedy  lawsuit  for  divorce,  or  a  con- 
tinual domestic  broil,  the  nearest  approach  to  a  mun- 
dane   purgatory    possible.      The    selfish,    close-fisted, 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  153 


miserly  money-catcher  must  marry  a  woman  equally 
sordid  and  stingy.  Then  together  they  could  hoard  up 
—for  moths  and  rust  to  destroy,  or  for  interested  rela- 
tives to  quarrel  over— their  beloved  greenbacks  and 
their  glittering  dollars,  each  scrimping  the  other  down 
to  the  finest  point  above  starvation  and  freezing,  and 
finally  dying,  to  be  forgotten  by  their  fellowmen  as 
soon  as  dead,  and  sent  among  the  goats  at  the  great 
Assizes.  A  shiftless  spendthrift  must  choose  for  a 
helpmeet  an  equally  slovenly,  thriftless  wife.  A  man 
with  a  crotchet  should  select  a  partner  with  the  same 
morbid  fancy.  A  man  whose  whole  mental  composi- 
tion gravitates  behind  his  ears,  must  find  a  mate  with 
the  same  animal  disposition.  An  individual  whose 
mental  organization  is  sadly  unbalanced,  is  advised  to 
seek  for  a  wife  a  woman  with  the  same  deficiencies  and 
abnormalities. 

Any  one  can  see  at  a  glance  the  domestic  disasters 
which  such  a  plan  of  proceeding  would  entail.  Men 
and  women  of  unbalanced  temperaments  would  become 
more  unbalanced.  An  individual  of  erroneous  tenden- 
cies, instead  of  having  the  constant  check  of  the  exam- 
ple and  admonitions  of  a  mate  of  opposite  tendencies, 
would  be,  by  constant  example,  hastened  onward  in 
his  sinful  ways.  Thus,  to  all  but  a  very  small  propor- 
tion of  humanity,  the  married  state  would  be  one  of 
infelicity  and  degeneration. 

And  what  would  be  the  progeny  of  such  unions? 
The  peculiarities  and  propensities  of  the  parents,  in- 
stead of  being  modified  and  perhaps  obliterated  in  the 
children  by  corresponding  differences  in  character, 
would  be  doubly  exaggerated.  The  children  of  selfish 
parents  would  be  thieves;  those  of  spendthrifts,  beg- 
gars; those  of  crotchety  parents,  monomaniacs;  those 


154  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

born  of  sensual  parents,  beastly  debauchees.  A  few 
generations  of  such  a  degenerating  process  would 
either  exterminate  the  race,  or  drive  it  back  to  Dar- 
win's ancestral  ape. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  from  our  strictures  upon  the 
theory  mentioned,  that  we  would  advocate  the  oppo- 
site course,  that  is,  the  contraction  of  marriage  by  indi- 
viduals of  wholly  dissimilar  tastes,  aims,  and  tempera- 
ments. Such  alliances  would  doubtless  be  quite  as 
wretched  in  their  results  as  those  of  an  opposite  char- 
acter. It  is  with  this  as  with  nearly  all  other  subjects ; 
the  true  course  lies  between  the  two  extremes.  Parties 
who  are  negotiating  a  life  partnership  should  be  care- 
ful to  assure  themselves  that  there  exists  a  sufficient 
degree  of  congeniality  of  temperament  to  make  such 
close  and  continued  association  agreeable. 

Disparity  of  Age.— Both  nature  and  custom  seem 
to  indicate  that  the  husband  should  be  a  little  older  than 
the  wife.  Several  reasons  might  be  given  for  this, 
but  we  need  not  mention  them.  When,  however,  the 
difference  of  ages  reaches  such  an  extreme  as  thirty, 
forty,  even  fifty  or  more  years,  nature  is  abused,  good 
taste  is  offended,  and  even  morality  is  shocked.  Ill- 
sorted  alliances  are  disastrous  to  both  parties,  and 
scarcely  more  to  one  than  the  other. 

Unions  of  an  opposite  character  to  those  just  con- 
sidered, wherein  a  young  man  marries  a  woman  much 
older  than  himself,  are  more  rare  than  those  of  the 
other  class.  They  are,  perhaps,  less  deplorable  in 
their  physical  effects,  but  still  highly  reprehensible. 
They  are  seldom  i^rompted  by  pure  motives,  and  can 
be  productive  of  no  good.  Children  resulting  from 
such  unions  are  notably  weak,  unbalanced,  and  sorry 
specimens  of  humanity. 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  155 


A  Domestic  Purgatory.— We  have  scarcely  re- 
ferred to  the  domestic  misery  which  may  result  from 
these  disgraceful  unions.  If  a  young  girl  is  brought 
home  by  a  widower  to  preside  over  his  grown-up 
daughters,  each  of  whom  is  old  enough  to  be  her 
mother,  all  the  elements  are  provided  for  such  a  do- 
mestic hell  as  could  only  be  equaled  by  circumstances 
precisely  similar.  If  children  are  born,  neither  father 
nor  mother  is  fit  to  act  the  part  of  a  parent  to  them. 
The  father,  by  reason  of  his  age,  is  fitful,  uncertain, 
and  childish;  to-day  too  lenient,  to-morrow  too  exact- 
ing. The  mother  is  pettish,  childish,  indulgent,  impa- 
tient, and  as  unskilled  in  government  as  unfit  for 
motherhood.  In  the  midst  of  all  this  misrule,  the  child 
grows  up  undisciplined,  uncultivated,  unsubdued,— a 
misery  to  his  parents,  a  disgrace  to  his  friends,  a  dis- 
honor to  himself. 

^'Wliat  shall  I  do  with  him?  and  what  will  he  do 
with  me  ? ' '  was  the  question  asked  by  a  girl  of  eighteen 
whose  parents  were  urging  her  to  marry  an  old  man; 
and  every  young  woman  would  do  well  to  propound 
the  same  question  under  similar  circumstances. 

Were  we  disposed  to  define  more  specifically  the 
conditions  necessary  to  secure  the  most  harmoniou? 
matrimonial  unions,  it  would  be  useless  to  do  so;  for 
unions  of  this  sort  never  have  been,  and  never  will  be-— 
with  rare  exceptions— formed  in  accordance  with  a 
prescribed  method,  independent  of  any  emotional  bias. 
Nor  is  it  probable  that  such  a  plan  would  result  in 
remedying,  in  any  appreciable  degree,  existing  evils. 
It  is  a  fact  too  patent  to  be  ignored,  that  a  very  large 
share  of  the  unhappiness  in  the  world  arises  from  ill- 
mated  marriages;  but  it  is  also  true  that  nearly  the 
whole  of  this  unhappiness  might  be  averted  if  the  par- 

10 


156  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

ties  themselves  would  endeavor  to  lessen  the  differ- 
ences between  them  by  mutual  approximation. 

Courtship.— We  cannot  well  avoid  devoting  a  few 
paragraphs  to  a  part  of  the  subject  so  important  as 
this,  especially  as  it  affords  an  opportunity  for  point- 
ing out  some  evils  too  patent  and  too  perilous  to  be 
ignored. 

Courting,  in  the  sense  in  which  we  use  the  word,  is 
distinctly  an  American  custom.  The  social  laws  of 
other  civilized  countries  are  such  as  to  preclude  the 
possibility  of  the  almost  unrestrained  association  of 
the  sexes  in  youth  which  we  see  in  this  country.  We 
do  not  offer  this  fact  as  an  argument  in  favor  of  for- 
eign social  customs,  by  any  means,  although  in  this 
one  particular  they  often  present  great  advantages, 
since  in  the  majority  of  instances  other  evils  as  great, 
or  even  greater,  are  encouraged.  We  mention  the  fact 
simply  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  into  bold  relief  the 
evils  of  the  characteristic  American  looseness  in  this 
particular. 

Courtship  in  France.— A  French  'matron  would 
be  horrified  at  the  idea  that  a  young  man  should  ask 
her  daughter  to  accompany  him  alone  on  an  evening 
ride,  to  a  lecture,  concert,  or  other  place  of  amusement, 
and  much  more,  should  he  ask  the  privilege  of  sitting 
up  all  night  in  the  parlor  with  the  light  turned  down, 
after  the  rest  of  the  family  had  retired.  Among  re- 
spectable people  in  France,  such  liberties  are  not  tol- 
erated; and  a  young  man  who  should  propose  such  a 
thing  would  be  dismissed  from  the  house  instantly,  and 
regarded  as  unfit  for  association  with  virtuous  people. 
If  a  young  man  calls  upon  a  young  lady  for  the  purpose 
of  making  her  acquaintance,  he  sees  both  her  and  her 
mother,  or  an  aunt,  or  older  sister.    He  never  sees  her 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  157 


alone.  If  lie  invites  her  to  ride,  or  to  accompany  him 
to  an  entertainment  of  any  sort,  he  must  always  invite 
her  lady  friend  also ;  she  goes  along  at  any  rate.  There 
is  afforded  no  chance  for  solitary  moonlight  strolls  or 
rides,  nor  any  other  of  the  similar  opportunities  made 
so  common  by  American  courting  customs. 

We  are  no  advocates  of  the  formal  modes  of  con- 
tracting matrimonial  alliances  common  among  many 
nations,  and  illustrations  of  which  we  find  in  all  ages 
of  the  world.  For  example,  among  the  ancient  Assyr- 
ians it  was  a  custom  to  sell  wives  to  the  highest  bidder, 
at  auction,  the  sums  received  for  the  handsomest  ones 
being  given  to  the  less  favored  ones  as  a  dowry,  to 
secure  a  husband  for  every  woman.  The  same  custom 
prevailed  in  Babylon  in  ancient  times,  and  has  been 
practiced  in  modern  times  in  Russia.  At  St.  Peters- 
burg, not  many  years  ago,  an  annual  sale  of  wives  was 
held  on  Whit  Sunday,  after  the  same  plan  followed  by 
the  Assyrians. 

A  Jewish  Custom.— Among  the  early  Jews  it 
seems  to  have  been  the  custom  for  parents  to  select 
wives  for  their  sons.  In  the  case  of  Isaac,  this  impor- 
tant matter  was  intrusted  to  an  old  and  experienced 
servant,  who  was  undoubtedly  considered  much  more 
competent  to  select  a  wife  for  the  young  man  than  he 
was  himself.  The  same  custom  has  been  handed  down, 
even  to  the  present  time,  among  some  Oriental  nations. 
In  many  cases  the  parties  are  not  allowed  to  see  each 
other  until  after  the  wedding  ceremony  is  completed. 
The  Hungarians  often  betroth  their  children  while  they 
are  yet  in  their  cradles,  as  did  the  Mexicans  and  Bra- 
zilians of  the  last  century.  In  some  countries  it  has 
even  been  customary  to  betroth  girls  conditionally  be- 
fore they  were  born. 


158  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

The  primitive  Moravians  seem  to  have  adhered  to 
the  ancient  Jewish  custom  in  some  degree,  though  mak- 
ing the  selection  of  a  wife  a  matter  of  chance.  The  old 
people  did  all  the  courting  there  was  done,  which  was 
not  much.  When  a  young  man  desired  a  wife,  a  help- 
meet was  selected  for  him  by  casting  lots  among  the 
marriageable  young  ladies  of  the  community,  and  the 
young  man  was  obliged  to  abide  by  the  decision,  it 
being  supposed  that  Providence  controlled  the  selec- 
tion. We  are  not  prepared  to  say  that  the  young  man 
ran  any  greater  risk  of  getting  an  uncongenial  or  um- 
desirable  life  companion  by  this  mode  of  selection 
than  by  the  more  modern  modes  in  vogue  among  us. 

As  before  remarked,  we  do  not  present  these  cus- 
toms as  illustrations  of  what  might  be  considered  a 
proper  mode  of  conducting  the  preliminary  steps  of 
matrimonial  alliances.  On  the  contrary,  we  unhesi- 
tatingly pronounce  them  decidedly  objectionable,  on 
moral  grounds,  if  not  on  others,  and  we  can  readily 
see  that  such  unions  must  have  been  in  many  cases 
exceedingly  unsatisfactory.  Nevertheless,  the  loose 
customs  which  prevail  in  this  country  can  scarcely  be 
considered  as  an  improvement. 

Long  Courtships.— Chiefly  for  the  reasons  pre- 
sented in  the  preceding  paragraphs,  we  are  opposed  to 
long  courtships  and  long  engagements.  They  are  pro- 
ductive of  no  good,  and  are  not  infrequently  the  occa- 
sion of  much  evil.  There  may  be  circumstances  which 
render  a  prolonged  engagement  necessary  and  advis- 
able ;  but,  in  general,  they  are  to  be  avoided. 

On  the  other  hand,  hasty  marriages  are  still  more 
to  be  deprecated,  especially  when,  as  is  too  commonly 
the  case,  the  probability  is  so  great  that  passion  is  the 
actuating  motive  far  more  than  true  love.    Marriage  is 


NATURE 


159-a 


HUMAN  NATURE 


159-b 


160-a 


^'TILL  DEATH  DO  US  PART'^ 


160-b 


LOYALTY 


Copyright  1901,  by  F.  E.  Beloen. 

PUBLISHED  LARGE  SIZE,   16X22,  AND    DEDICATED 

TO  THE  PURITY  OEPT.   OF  THE  W.  C.  T.   U. 

OF  AMERICA. 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  161 


a  matter  of  most  serious  consequence,  and  deserving  of 
the  most  careful  deliberation.  Too  often,  matrimony  is 
entered  upon  without  any  more  substantial  assurance 
of  happiness  as  the  result  than  the  individual  has  of 
securing  a  valuable  prize  who  buys  a  ticket  in  a  lot- 
tery scheme.  In  the  majority  of  cases,  young  people 
learn  more  of  each  other's  real  character  within  two 
weeks  after  marriage  than  they  discovered  during 
many  months  of  courting. 

Advice  about  Getting  Married.— To  every  young 
man  and  woman  we  say.  Look  well  before  you  leap; 
consider  well,  carefully,  and  prayerfully.  A  reckless 
leap  in  the  dark  is  a  fearful  risk,  and  will  be  far  more 
likely  to  land  you  in  a  domestic  purgatory  than  any- 
where else.  Do  not  be  dazzled  by  a  handsome  face,  an 
agreeable  address,  a  brilliant  or  piquant  manner. 
Choose  modesty,  simplicity,  sincerity,  morality,—  quali- 
ties of  heart  and  mind,—  rather  than  exterior  embel- 
lishments. 

''It  is  folly,"  suggests  a  friend,  ''to  give  advice  on 
these  subjects;  for  no  one  will  follow  advice  on  this 
point,  no  matter  how  sensible  and  reasonable  he  may 
be  on  all  other  subjects.  The  emotions  carry  the  indi- 
vidual away,  and  the  reason  loses  control."  This  is 
too  true,  in  nearly  all  cases.  We  believe  in  affection. 
The  emotions  have  their  part  to  act.  We  have  no  sym- 
pathy with  the  theories  of  those  who  will  have  all  mar- 
riages made  by  rule.  But  reason  must  be  allowed  a 
voice  in  the  matter ;  and  although  there  may  be  a  time 
when  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  emotions  may  rele- 
gate reason  and  judgment  into  the  background,  there 
has  been  a  time  previous  when  the  judgment  might 
have  held  control.  Let  every  young  person  be  most 
scrupulously  careful  how  he  allows  emotional  excite- 


162  PLAIN    FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

ment  to  gain  the  ascendency.  Wlien  reason  is  once 
stifled,  the  individual  is  in  a  most  precarious  situation. 
It  is  far  better  and  easier  to  prevent  the  danger  than 
to  escape  from  it. 

Flirtation.—  We  cannot  find  language  sufficiently 
emphatic  to  express  proper  condemnation  of  one  of 
the  most  popular  forms  of  amusement  indulged  in  at 
the  present  day  in  this  country,  under  the  guise  of  inno- 
cent association  of  the  sexes.  By  the  majority  of  peo- 
ple, flirtation  is  looked  upon  as  harmless,  some  even 
considering  it  useful,  claiming  that  the  experience 
gained  by  such  associations  is  valuable  to  young  per- 
sons, by  making  them  familiar  with  the  customs  of 
society  and  the  ways  of  the  world.  We  have  not  the 
slightest  hesitation  in  pronouncing  flirtation  pernicious 
in  the  extreme.  It  exerts  a  malign  influence  alike  upon 
the  mental,  the  moral,  and  the  physical  constitution  of 
those  who  indulge  it.  The  young  lady  who  has  become 
infatuated  with  a  passion  for  flirting,  courting  the 
society  of  young  men  simply  for  the  pleasure  derived 
from  their  attentions,  is  educating  herself  in  a  school 
which  will  totally  unfit  her  for  the  enjoyment  of  domes- 
tic peace  and  happiness  should  she  have  all  the  condi- 
tions necessary  for  such  enjoyment  other  than  those 
which  she  herself  must  furnish.  More  than  this,  she 
is  very  likely  laying  the  foundation  for  lifelong  disease 
by  the  dissipation,  late  hours,  late  suppers,  evening 
exposures,  fashionable  dressing,  etc.,  the  almost  cer- 
tain accompaniments  of  the  vice  we  are  considering. 
She  is  surely  sacrificing  a  life  of  real,  true  happiness 
for  the  transient  fascinations  of  unreal  enjojanent,  per- 
nicious excitement. 

It  may  be  true,  and  undoubtedly  is  the  case,  that  by 
far  the  greater  share  of  the  guilt  of  flirtation  lies  at 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  163 


the  door  of  the  female  sex ;  but  there  do  exist  such  detes- 
table creatures  as  male  flirts.  In  general,  the  male  flirt 
is  a  much  less  worthy  character  than  the  young  lady 
who  makes  a  pastime  of  flirtation.  He  is  something 
more  than  a  flirt.  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  he  is  a  rake 
as  well.  His  object  in  flirting  is  to  gratify  a  mean 
l^ropensity  at  the  expense  of  those  who  are  pure  and 
unsophisticated.  He  is  skilled  in  the  arts  of  fascination 
and  intrigue.  Slowly  he  winds  his  coils  about  his  vic- 
tim, and  before  she  is  aware  of  his  real  character,  she 
has  lost  her  own.  Such  wretches  ought  to  be  punished 
in  a  purgatory  by  themselves,  made  seven  times  hotter 
than  for  ordinary  criminals. 

Society  is  full  of  these  lecherous  villains.  They  in- 
sinuate themselves  into  the  drawing-rooms  of  the  most 
respectable  families ;  they  are  always  on  hand  at  social 
gatherings  of  every  sort.  They  haunt  the  ball-room, 
the  theater,  and  even  the  church  when  they  can  for- 
ward their  infamous  plans  by  seeming  to  be  pious.  Not 
infrequently  they  are  well  supplied  with  a  stock  of 
pious  cant,  which  they  employ  on  occasion  to  make  an 
impression.  They  are  the  sharks  of  society,  and  often 
seize  in  their  voracious  maws  the  fairest  and  brightest 
ornaments  of  a  conmiunity.  The  male  flirt  is  a  mon- 
ster. Every  man  ought  to  despise  him;  and  every 
woman  ought  to  spurn  him  as  a  loathsome  social  leper. 

Any  young  man  who  has  been  heartlessly  jilted  by 
a  young  woman  upon  whom  he  has  placed  his  affec- 
tions, should  waste  no  time  in  regrets  that  his  suit  has 
been  refused,  but  should  consider  himself  in  the  highest 
degree  fortunate  that  he  has  not  been  permitted  to 
form  a  lifelong  alliance  with  one  who  was  utterly  un- 
worthy of  the  affections  of  any  honest  man.  So  also 
the  young  lady  whose  affections  have  been  trifled  with 


164  PLAIN    FACTS    FOit    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

by  one  of  those  heartless  fops  who  consider  the  break- 
ing of  hearts  an  enjoyable  pastime,  should  not  regret 
her  experience  as  a  loss,  but  rather  regard  it  as  a 
fortunate  deliverance  from  a  life  of  wretchedness  cer- 
tain to  result  to  any  woman  who  places  her  happiness 
in  the  keeping  of  one  of  those  shallow-brained  and 
heartless  individuals. 

Youthful  Flirtations.  —  Flirting  is  not  confined 
to  young  men  and  women.  The  contagion  extends  to 
little  boys  and  girls,  whose  heads  ought  to  be  as  empty 
of  all  thoughts  of  sexual  relations  as  the  vacuum  of  an 
air-pump  is  of  air.  The  intimate  association  of  young 
boys  and  girls  in  our  common  schools,  and,  indeed,  in 
the  majority  of  educational  institutions,  gives  abundant 
opportunity  for  the  fostering  of  this  kind  of  a  spirit, 
so  prejudicial  to  healthful  mental  and  moral  develop- 
ment. Every  educator  who  is  alive  to  the  objects  and 
interests  of  his  profession,  knows  too  well  the  baneful 
influence  of  these  premature  and  pernicious  tendencies. 
Many  times  has  the  teacher  watched  with  a  sad  heart 
the  withering  of  all  his  hopes  for  the  intellectual  prog- 
ress of  a  naturally  gifted  scholar,  by  this  blighting  in- 
fluence. 

The  most  dangerous  period  for  boys  and  girls  ex- 
posed to  temptations  of  this  sort  is  that  just  following 
puberty,  or  between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  eighteen  or 
twenty.  This  period,  a  prominent  educator  in  one  of 
our  Western  States  once  denominated,  not  inappropri- 
ately, "the  agonizing  period  of  human  puppyhood. " 
If  this  critical  period  is  once  safely  passed,  the  indi- 
vidual is  comparatively  safe;  but  how  many  fail  to 
pass  through  the  ordeal  unseared! 

The  most  painful  phase  of  this  subject  is  the  tacit— 
even,  in  many  cases,  active— encouragement,  which  too 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  165 


many  parents  give  their  children  in  this  very  direction, 
seemingly  in  utter  ignorance  of  the  enormity  of  the 
evil  which  they  are  winking  at  or  fostering.  Parents 
need  enlightenment  on  this  subject,  and  ought  to  be 
aroused  to  the  fact  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  momentous 
questions  that  can  arise  in  the  rearing  and  training 
of  children. 

Polygamy.—  One  hundred  years  ago  the  public  dis- 
cussion of  the  propriety  or  impropriety  of  a  plurality 
of  wives  would  have  been  impossible.  Polygamy  had 
not  obtained  a  foothold  as  an  institution  in  any  civil- 
ized land.  Being  well  known  as  not  uncommon  among 
certain  heathenish  and  barbarous  tribes,  it  was  looked 
upon  as  a  heathenish  and  debasing  institution,  the  out- 
growth of  ignorance  and  gross  sensuality,  and  a  relic 
of  a  sensual  age.  Now,  this  is  no  longer  true.  Even 
in  America,  the  most  enlightened  of  all  lands,  where 
there  are  most  ample  facilities  for  culture,  for  moral 
and  mental  development,  polygamy  holds  up  its  hid- 
eous head  in  defiance  of  all  the  laws  of  God  and  man. 
It  is  true  that  the  perpetrators  of  this  foul  crime 
against  humanity  and  Heaven  have  been  driven  by  the 
indignation  of  outraged  decency  to  seek  a  lurking  place 
in  the  Western  territories ;  yet  the  foul  odors  from  this 
festering  sore  are  daily  becoming  more  and  more 
putrescent,  and  in  spite  of  the  distance,  are  contami- 
nating the  already  not  overstrict  morals  in  other  local- 
ities. ' 

A  Defense  of  Polygamy,— We  have  read  a  treatise 
justifying  and  advocating  polygamy,  purporting  to 
have  been  written  by  an  evangelical  clergyman.  If  so, 
he  was  evidently  not  willing  to  own  his  work,  for  his 
name  is  carefully  excluded  from  the  title  page,  and  his 
publisher  put  under  an  oath  of  secrecy.     The  argu- 


166  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

ments  wMch  he  makes  in  favor  of  polygamy  are  chiefly 
the  following: 

1.  That  it  is  approved  by  the  Bible. 

2.  That  a  robust  man  requires  more  than  one 
woman  to  satisfy  his  sexual  demands. 

3.  That  there  are  more  women  than  men ;  and  since 
every  woman  has  a  right  to  have  a  husband,  the  only 
way  all  can  be  supplied  is  to  allow  several  women,  two 
or  more,  according  to  the  capacity  of  the  man,  or  as 
they  can  agree,  to  form  a  marriage  partnership  with 
one  man. 

4.  That  the  great  men  of  all  ages  have  been  polyga- 
mists  in  fact,  if  not  by  open  profession. 

5.  That  monogamy  is  a  relic  of  the  paganism  of  the 
ancient  Greeks  and  Romans,  with  whom  it  originated. 

6.  That  polygamy  is  the  only  proper  and  etfective 
cure  for  the  ''social  evil,"  and  all  its  attendant  vices 
and  dire  diseases. 

Arguments  of  Polygamists  Answered.— As  the 
work  referred  to  has  had  quite  a  circulation,  bearing 
the  imprint  of  a  well-known  Boston  publisher,  and  has 
not  received  any  answer  that  we  are  aware  of,  we  deem 
it  worth  while  to  give  these  arguments  at  least  a  pass- 
ing notice.  We  will  consider  them  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  stated  above. 

1.  We  deny  most  emphatically  the  assertion  that 
polygamy  is  either  taught  or  approved  by  the  Bible. 
It  was  tolerated  in  a  people  who  had  long  been  in  the 
darkness  of  Egyptian  bondage,  but  never  approved. 
Indeed,  the  inspired  writers  have  evidently  taken 
pains  to  give  numerous  examples  of  the  evils  growing 
out  of  that  violation  of  the  laws  of  God  and  nature. 
Mormon  missionaries  are  spreading  their  deceptions 
everywhere  with  such  zeal  that  we  deem  it  not  inap- 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  167 


propriate  to  quote  the  following  passages  of  Scripture 
in  refutation  of  their  so-called  Bible  authority  for 
polygamy.  They  mistake  erring  example  for  moral 
precept:  Gen.  2:22-24  reads,  ''And  the  rib  which 
the  Lord  God  had  taken  from  man,  made  he  a  ivoman, 
and  brought  her  unto  the  man.  .  .  .  Therefore  shall 
a  man  leave  his  father  and  his  mother,  and  shall 
cleave  unto  his  ivife:  and  they  shall  be  one  flesh." 
Christ  repeats  this  law  in  Matt.  19 : 4-6.  The  deca- 
logue, spoken  by  God  himself,  recognizes  no  change 
in  this  plan:  "Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbor's 
wife."  Ex.  20:17.  Lev.  18:18  reads,  ''Neither 
shalt  thou  take  a  wife  to  her  sister  (margin,  'one 
wife  to  another')  to  vex  her."  Paul,  in  1  Tim.  3:2, 
12,  instructs  the  true  church  to  follow  the  Creator's 
plan.  A  false  church  may  be  expected  to  ignore  it: 
"A  bishop  must  be  blameless,  the  husband  of  one 
wife."  Verse  2.  "Let  the  deacons  be  the  husbands 
of  one  wife."  Verse  12.  Eph.  5:33  reads.  "Let 
every  one  of  you  in  particular  so  love  his  wife  even 
as  himself."  This  ought  to  prevent  the  deception  of 
the  most  ignorant. 

2.  The  second  argument  is  based  upon  the  asserted 
fact  that  man  naturally  possesses  stronger  sexual  de- 
mands than  woman;  that  these  demands  are  impera- 
tive ;  and  that  it  is  not  only  impossible,  but  in  the  high- 
est degree  injurious,  to  restrain  them. 

While  it  is  true,  as  a  fact  affirmed  by  constant  ob- 
servation, that  men  have  stronger  passions  than 
women,  in  general,  and  that  many  men  demand  of  their 
wives  a  degree  of  sexual  indulgence  which  is  the  cause 
of  serious  injury  to  them,  and  even  impossible  for  them 
to  grant  without  doing  themselves  the  greatest  wrong, 
it  is  by  no  means  proved  either  that  these  demands 


168  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

are  imperative,  that  they  are  natural,  or  that  they 
are  not  injurious  to  the  man  as  well  as  the  woman, 
much  less  beneficial  to  either.  On  the  contrary,  there 
is  as  great  a  weight  of  evidence  as  could  be  required 
that  restraint,  self-control,  and  moderation  in  the  exer- 
cise of  the  sexual  instinct,  are  in  the  highest  degree 
beneficial  to  man,  as  well  as  to  woman,  and  are  neces- 
sary for  his  highest  development. 

3.  \A^iile  it  is  true  there  are  a  few  more  adult  women 
than  men,  the  difference  is  not  sufficiently  great  to  re- 
quire the  introduction  of  polygamy  as  a  remedy  for 
enforced  celibacy.  At  any  rate,  this  would  be  unneces- 
sary until  all  bachelors  had  been  provided  with  wives, 
when  there  would  be  found  no  necessity  for  further 
provision,  since  there  are  large  numbers  of  women  who 
are  utterly  unfit  to  marry,  who  would  be  injured  by  so 
doing,  and  would  only  serve  to  degenerate  the  race, 
besides  making  themselves  more  wretched  than  they 
already  are. 

Again,  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  more  males  than 
females  are  born,  the  preponderance  of  adult  females 
being  caused  by  a  greater  mortality  among  male  chil- 
dren, together  with  the  losses  from  accidents  and  war. 
By  a  correct  observance  of  the  laws  of  health,  together 
with  the  abolition  of  wars,  the  disparity  in  relative 
numbers  of  the  sexes  would  disappear.  Indeed,  it 
might  happen  that  men  would  be  in  the  preponderance. 

Still  again,  it  is  only  in  a  few  very  populous  and 
long-settled  communities  that  there  are  more  women 
than  men,  as  in  the  States  of  Massachusetts,  Connecti- 
cut, and  a  few  others  of  the  Eastern  States,  and  a  few 
countries  of  Europe.  In  all  newly  settled  countries,  the 
reverse  is  true.  The  inquiry  naturally  arises.  What 
shall  be  done  under  these  circumstances  f      Shall  a 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  169 


woman  be  allowed  more  than  one  husband,  as  is  actu- 
ally the  case  in  some  countries  1  ' '  Oh !  no ; "  our  polyg- 
amist  replies,  ''a  woman  is  not  capable  of  loving  more 
than  one  man,  and  is  not  even  able  to  satisfy  the 
sexual  demands  of  a  single  husband;  so,  of  course, 
a  plurality  of  husbands  is  out  of  the  question.  A 
man  is  capable  of  loving  any  number  of  women,  being 
differently  constituted;  and  so  the  same  rule  does  not 
apply. ' ' 

The  writer  evidently  confounds  love  with  lust.  He 
will  grant  unstinted  indulgence  to  the  lusts  of  man,  but 
requires  woman  to  be  restrained,  offering  as  an  apol- 
ogy for  such  a  manifestly  unfair  and  unphilosophical 
discrimination,  that  ''man  is  differently  constituted 
from  a  woman  sexually,  requiring  more  active  exer- 
cise of  the  sexual  functions,"—  a  conclusion  which 
could  be  warranted  only  by  the  selection,  as  a  typ- 
ical specimen  of  the  male  part  of  humanity,  of  a 
man  with  an  abnormal  development  of  the  animal 
propensities. 

A  correct  understanding  and  application  of  the  laws 
of  sexual  hygiene  would  effectually  sweep  away  every 
vestige  of  argument  based  on  this  foundation. 

4.  In  proof  of  the  propriety  of  polygamy,  as  well  as 
of  its  necessity,  the  author  referred  to  cites  the  well- 
known  fact  that  Plato,  Aristotle,  Bacon,  Alexander, 
Caesar,  Napoleon,  Burns,  Byron,  Augustus,  Webster, 
and  numerous  others  of  the  noted  men  of  all  ages  have 
been  incontinent  men.  The  fact  that  these  men  were 
guilty  of  crime  does  not  in  the  least  degree  detract  from 
the  enormity  of  sin.  It  is  equally  true  that  many  great 
men  have  been  addicted  to  intemperance  and  other 
crimes.  Alexander  was  a  Sodomite  as  well  as  a  lecher- 
ous rake.    Does  this  fact  afford  any  proof  that  those 


170  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

crimes  are  virtues  instead  of  vices !  Such  argument  is 
hardly  worthy  of  serious  ref utal,  since  it  stultifies  itself. 

5.  The  fact  that  monogamy  was  practiced  among 
the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans,  is  in  no  way  deroga- 
tory of  it  as  an  institution.  Even  if  it  could  be  shown 
that  it  originated  with  those  nations,  still  this  would 
in  no  way  detract  from  its  value  or  respectability.  But 
monogamy  did  not  originate  with  the  Greeks,  neither 
was  it  invented  by  the  Romans,  nor  by  any  other  na- 
tion. It  originated  with  the  great  Originator  of  the 
human  race.  It  is  an  institution  which  has  come  down 
to  us,  not  from  Greece  or  Rome,  but  from  Paradise. 

If  it  was  so  important  that  man  should  have  more 
than  one  woman  to  supply  his  sexual  demands,  why 
was  the  Creator  so  short-sighted  as  to  make  but  one 
Eve?  It  would  have  been  as  easy  to  remove  two  or 
three  or  half  a  dozen  ribs  from  Adam's  side  as  one; 
and  as  the  whole  world  had  yet  to  be  populated,  a  plu- 
rality of  wives  would  certainly  have  accelerated  the 
process.  Surely,  if  polygamy  was  ever  required  or 
excusable,  it  ought  to  have  been  allowed  at  the  start. 

Again,  when  Noah  went  into  the  ark,  taking  with 
him  an  assortment  of  all  species  of  animals,  he  took 
some  kinds  by  pairs  and  some  by  sevens,  from  which 
we  might  suspect,  at  least,  that  he  observed  the  laws  of 
nature  respecting  polygamous  and  monogamous  ani- 
mals. But  he  took  only  one  wife  for  himself,  and  only 
one  for  each  of  his  sons.  "V^^iy  not  two  or  half  a  dozen 
instead?  Polygamy  would  certainly  have  accelerated 
the  repopulation  of  the  earth  most  wonderfully;  but 
Noah  was  monogamous.  Likewise  Abraham,  the 
''friend  of  God,"  had  but  one  wife  when  called  to  be 
the  "father  of  the  faithful;"  and  it  is  unjust  to  charge 
Jacob  with  a  purpose   of  polygamy  because  of  the 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  171 


deception  practiced  by  the  sordid  Laban.  To  say,  in 
view  of  the  facts,  that  monogamy  originated  with  the 
paganism  of  ancient  Greece  and  Rome,  is  ahnost  blas- 
phemy. 

6.  The  argument  that  polygamy  will  cure  the 
' '  social  evil ' '  is  exactly  equivalent  to  the  argument  that 
the  removal  of  all  restraint  from  the  sale  and  manu- 
facture of  intoxicating  drinks,  thus  making  them  cheap 
and  common,  is  the  best  remedy  for  intemperance.  An 
equally  good  argument  might  be  made  for  the  cure  of 
theft,  murder,  and  every  other  vice  and  crime,  by  a 
similar  plan.  Such  reasoning  is  the  veriest  sophistry. 
None  but  a  biased  mind  could  produce  such  flimsy  ar- 
guments. 

But  we  forbear.  We  have  already  given  this  sub- 
ject more  attention  than  it  is  worthy  of,  though  we  have 
failed  to  characterize  the  vice  of  polygamy  as  it  de- 
serves. Our  chief  apology  for  noticing  the  subject  is 
the  fact  that  sensual  men  sometimes  set  up  some  of  the 
same  arguments  as  an  apology  for  their  vices. 

Polyandry.—  Perhaps  we  should  add  a  word  or 
two  respecting  this  custom,  which  seems  to  be  a  still 
greater  outrage  against  nature  than  that  of  polygamy, 
being  the  possession  of  a  plurality  of  husbands  by  one 
woman.  This  practice  is  in  vogue  in  several  countries 
at  the  present  time,  being  very  common  in  Thibet, 
where  it  is  not  an  unusual  thing  for  a  woman,  in  marry- 
ing the  eldest  of  a  family  of  brothers,  to  include  in  the 
contract  all  the  other  brothers  as  well.  Polyandry  was 
also  common  among  the  ancient  Medes.  Indeed,  the 
Medes  practiced  both  polygamy  and  polyandry.  A 
man  was  not  considered  respectable  unless  he  had  at 
least  seven  wives;  neither  were  women  considered 
worthy  of  general  esteem  unless  they  had  as  many  as 


272  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

five  husbands.  In  that  country,  the  fact  that  a  woman 
was  already  married  was  in  no  degree  a  barrier  to 
subsequent  marriages,  even  while  the  husband  was  liv- 
ing, and  without  the  trouble  of  a  divorce.  Those  who 
maintain  the  propriety  of  polygamy,  would  do  well  to 
consider  the  historic  facts  respecting  the  opposite  prac- 
tice. There  appear  to  be  as  good  grounds  for  believing 
one  to  have  a  basis  in  the  human  constitution  as  the 
other. 

Divorce.—  Another  of  the  crying  evils  of  the  day, 
and  one  which  menaces  in  a  most  alarming  manner  the 
most  sacred  interests  of  society,  is  the  facility  with 
which  divorces  may  be  obtained.  In  some  States,  the 
laws  regulating  divorce  are  so  notoriously  loose  that 
scores  and  even  hundreds  of  people  visit  the  States 
referred  to  every  year  with  no  other  object  than  to 
obtain  a  dissolution  of  the  bonds  of  matrimony.  The 
effect  of  this  looseness  in  the  laws  is  to  encourage 
hasty,  inconsiderate  marriages,  and  to  make  escape 
from  an  uncongenial  partner  so  easy  that  the  obliga- 
tion to  cultivate  forbearance,  and  to  acquire  mutual 
adaptation,  which  may  not  at  first  exist,  is  wholly  over- 
looked. 

The  Bible  rule  for  divorce,  laid  down  by  the  great 
Teacher,  is  little  regarded  in  these  degenerate  days. 
He  made  adultery  the  only  legitimate  cause  for  divorce ; 
yet  we  now  see  married  people  breaking  asunder  their 
solemn  marriage  ties  on  the  occurrence  of  the  most 
trivial  difficulties.  If  a  couple  become  tired  of  each 
other,  and  desire  a  change,  all  they  have  to  do  is  to 
forward  the  fee  to  a  New  York  or  Chicago  lawyer,  and 
they  will  receive  back  in  a  short  time  the  legal  papers 
duly  signed,  granting  them  the  desired  annulment  of 
their  vows. 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE        '  173 


Although  countenanced  by  human  laws,  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  this  shameless  trifling  with  a  divine  in- 
stitution is  regarded  by  High  Heaven  as  the  vilest 
abomination.  In  no  direction  is  there  greater  need  of 
reformatory  legislation  than  in  this.  The  marriage 
contract  should  be  recognized  in  our  laws  as  one  which 
cannot  be  made  and  broken  so  lightly  as  it  now  is.  It 
should  be  annulled  only  for  the  most  serious  offenses. 
The  contrary  course,  now  pursued  so  frequently,  is 
most  detrimental  to  morals.  Our  divorce  laws  virtu- 
ally offer  a  premium  for  unchastity. 

Not  infrequently  we  see,  among  the  advertisements 
in  the  newspapers,  notices  like  the  following:  ''  The 
undersigned  is  prepared  to  furnish  divorces  to  parties 
desiring  the  same  at  moderate  rates,  in  short  time,  and 
without  joublicity. . ' ' 

The  animus  of  these  advertisements  is  fraud.  The 
parties  so  engaged  are  the  vilest  scoundrels;  and  that 
they  are  allowed  to  continue  to  ply  their  nefarious 
vocation  is  a  foul  blot  upon  the  enlightened  civilization 
of  a  so-called  Christian  country.  A  publisher  who  will 
insert  such  a  notice  in  his  journal,  would  advertise  a 
brothel  if  he  dared.  AA^iile  there  is  so  much  interest  in 
the  suppression  of  obscene  literature,  would  suggest 
that  the  proper  authorities  should  likewise  direct  their 
attention  to  the  suppression  of  unlawful  divorces,  and 
the  proper  punishment  of  the  villains  engaged  in  for- 
warding this  nefarious  business. 

"Who  May  Not  Marry.  —  Many  writers  devote 
much  space  in  laying  down  rules  which  are  to  be  im- 
plicitly followed  by  those  seeking  life  partners.  We 
have  attempted  nothing  of  the  sort,  both  from  its  im- 
practicability, and  from  the  fact  that  such  rules  are 
never  followed;  and  if  the  attempt  should  be  made  to 
11 


174  PLAIISr    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

follow  the  prescribed  rules,  we  are  not  sure  tbat  more 
good  than  harm  would  be  the  result.  Hence,  we  shall 
content  ourselves  with  calling  attention  to  a  few  facts 
of  great  importance  respecting  the  conditions  which 
imperatively  forbid  marriage,  and  which  cannot  be 
violated  without  the  certain  entailment  of  great  suffer- 
ing. 

1.  Persons  suffering  ivitli  serious  disease  of  a 
character  communicable  to  others  hy  contagion  or  by 
hereditary  transmission. 

Many  people  wonder  why  it  is  that  diseases  are  so 
much  more  numerous  and  varied  in  modern  times  than 
in  the  earlier  ages  of  the  race.  There  has  been  an 
evident  increase  of  diseases  within  a  few  centuries. 
While  there  are,  undoubtedly,  numerous  influencing 
causes,  one  which  cannot  be  overlooked  is  the  heredi- 
tary transmission  of  disease,  which  preserves  those 
disorders  already  existing,  and  adds  new  ones  which 
originate  from  new  exciting  causes.  By  this  means, 
the  human  race  is  undoubtedly  being  weakened,  human 
life  shortened,  and  diseases  multiplied.  Compare  the 
average  age  of  human  beings  of  the  present  day,  less 
than  forty  years,  with  the  longevity  of  the  early  mem- 
bers of  the  race,  who  lived  more  than  as  many  score 
of  years.  Some  mighty  deteriorating  influence  has 
been  at  work;  and  we  hazard  nothing  in  the  assertion 
that  the  marriage  of  diseased  persons,  and  kindred 
violations  of  the  laws  of  human  hygiene,  have  been  not 
unimportant  factors  in  producing  this  most  ai3palling 
diminution  in  the  length  of  human  life. 

Among  the  diseases  which  are  most  certain  to  be 
transmitted,  are  pulmonary  tuberculosis,  or  consump- 
tion, syphilis,  cancer,  leprosy,  epilepsy  and  some  other 
nervous  disorders,  some  forms  of  skin  disease,   and 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  175 


insanity.  The  list  might  be  extended;  but  these  are 
the  most  common.  Persons  suffering  with  these  dis- 
orders have  no  right  to  marry,  for  at  least  four  rea- 
sons: 

(1)  It  is  a  sin  against  the  offspring  of  such  unions, 
who  have  a  right  to  be  born  well,  but  are  forced  to 
come  into  the  world  with  weakly  constitutions,  diseased 
frames,  and  the  certainty  of  iDremature  death.  The 
children  of  consumptive  and  syphilitic  parents  rarely 
survive  infancy.  If  they  do,  it  is  only  to  suffer  later 
on,  as  they  surely  will,  and  perhaps  to  communicate  the 
same  destructive  diseases  to  other  human  beings;  but 
these  diseases  rarely  extend  beyond  the  third  gener- 
ation, the  line  becoming  extinct.  The  most  heart- 
rending spectacles  we  have  ever  met  have  been  the 
children  of  parents  suffering  with  the  diseases  men- 
tioned. Their  appearance  is  characteristic;  no  physi- 
cian of  experience  can  fail  to  detect  the  sins  of  a  prof- 
ligate parent  in  a  syphilitic  child.  Every  feature  in- 
dicates the  presence  of  a  blighting  curse. 

There  are  those  who  assert  that  a  man  who  has  suf- 
fered with  disease  of  the  character  last  mentioned,  may 
marry  after  the  lapse  of  two  or  three  years  from  the 
disappearance  of  the  active  sjanptoms  of  the  malady. 
Such  assertions  we  consider  as  most  dangerous  and 
pernicious.  The  individuals  who  make  them  are  well 
acquainted  with  the  fact  that,  of  all  diseases,  this  is 
the  most  difficult  to  eradicate  when  once  the  system 
has  become  thoroughly  infected  by  it.  Not  only  three 
years,  but  thirty,  may  elapse  after  active  symptoms 
disappear;  yet  the  disease  may  break  out  again  in  a 
new  and  still  more  serious  and  complicated  form.  It 
may  even  lie  entirely  dormant  or  latent  in  the  system 
of  the  parent  during  his  lifetime,  but  break  out  in  all 


176  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

its  terrible  destructiveness  in  his  children.  A  man  or 
woman  who  has  once  suffered  with  this  fell  disease,  is 
contaminated  for  life;  and  it  is  a  crime  for  such  a 
one  to  entail  upon  innocent,  unoffending  human  beings 
such  a  terrible  legacy.  Such  a  person  has  no  right  to 
marry;  or  if  married,  has  no  right  to  perpetuate  the 
results  of  his  sins  in  offspring.  It  is  never  safe  to 
say  to  a  man  who  has  once  been  infected,  You  are 
cured.  If  a  cure  ever  takes  place,  it  is  exceedingly 
rare. 

A  worn-out  debauchee  certainly  has  no  right  to 
marry.  As  a  medical  writer  has  remarked :  ^ '  Marriage 
is  not  a  hospital  or  an  infirmary  for  the  treatment  of 
disease,  or  a  reformatory  institution  for  the  moral 
leper.  More  intelligent  and  just  public  opinion  will 
do  away  with  such  outrages." 

(2)  It  is  a  crime  against  the  race.  One  of  the  pri- 
mary objects  of  marriage  is  reproduction.  As  mem- 
bers of  the  human  race,  it  is  the  duty  of  parents  to 
produce  a  high  type  of  human  beings,  at  least  to  do  all 
in  their  power  to  produce  healthy  offspring.  If  they 
cannot  do  this,  and  are  aware  of  the  fact,  they  are 
guilty  of  abuse  of  the  reproductive  function  in  bring- 
ing sickly  offspring  into  the  world  to  suffer. 

(3)  It  is  injurious  to  the  contracting  parties  them- 
selves. If  a  person  has  a  communicable  disease,  as 
syphilis,  leprosy,  and  some  bad  forms  of  skin  disease, 
the  disease  will  certainly  be  communicated  to  the  wife 
or  husband,  and  so  a  double  amount  of  suffering  will 
be  entailed.  The  dread  disease,  consumption,  rightly 
called  the  scourge  of  civilization,  is  now  well  known 
to  be  communicable.  A  few  years  ago  we  were  con- 
sulted by  an  old  gentleman,  a  native  of  Canada,  who 
was  suffering  with  pulmonary  disease.     We  inquired 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  177 


respecting  the  history  of  the  malady.  Said  he,  "Doc- 
tor, it  may  seem  strange,  but  I  believe  I  inherited  con- 
sumption from  my  wife,  who  died  of  consumption  a 
few  years  ago. ' '  Excepting  the  wrong  use  of  the  term 
inherit,  we  were  not  prepared  to  dispute  the  old  gen- 
tleman's ideas  respecting  the  origin  of  his  disease. 
Living  for  years  in  close  association  with  his  wife, 
who  was  slowly  dying  with  disease  of  the  lungs,  it  was 
quite  possible  for  him  to  have  received  the  disease  from 
her.  So  many  cases  of  this  kind  have  been  reported 
that  it  is  now  generally  believed  by  medical  men  that 
consumption  is  communicable  from  one  person  to  an- 
other by  the  reception  into  the  system  of  the  well  per- 
son of  the  exhalations  from  the  lungs  of  the  person 
affected. 

Physical  Influence  of  Marriage.— Another  point 
worthy  of  mention  here  is  the  well-known  fact  that  the 
intimate  association  of  married  people  modifies  even 
the  physical  form  of  both.  Almost  every  one  has  no- 
ticed how  much  alike  in  appearance  married  people 
often  come  to  be  who  have  lived  many  years  together. 
This  physical  change  undoubtedly  extends  farther  than 
to  the  features  only.  The  whole  constitution  is  modi- 
fied. 

A  remarkable  illustration  is  found  in  the  frequent 
observation  that  the  children  of  a  woman  by  a  second 
husband  often  resemble  in  appearance  the  first  hus- 
band much  more  than  their  own  father.  It  has  been 
observed  that  the  children  of  a  negro  woman,  by  a 
husband  of  pure  negro  blood,  are  much  lighter  in  color 
than  usual,  if  she  has  had  a  child  by  a  white  man  pre- 
viously. 

The  same  fact  is  observed  in  lower  animals.  In 
England,  some  years  ago,  a  cross  was  effected  between 


178  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

a  male  zebra  and  several  young  mares.  Not  only  the 
hybrid  colts  resulting  from  this  union,  but  all  the  colts 
afterward  foaled  by  the  same  mares,  from  other  stal- 
lions, were  striped  like  the  zebra. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  it  is  probable  that  the  system 
of  the  wife,  at  least,  may  be  profoundly  affected  by 
constitutional  weaknesses,  as  well  as  by  other  individ- 
ual peculiarities  possessed  by  her  husband. 

No  person  suffering  with  a  contagious  or  infectious 
disease  has  any  right  to  communicate  the  same  to  an- 
other. Indeed,  it  is  the  moral  duty  of  every  person  so 
affected  to  do  all  in  his  power  for  the  protection  of 
others  from  the  same  cause  of  suffering. 

2.  Persons  having  a  marked  hereditary  tendency  to 
disease  must  not  marry  those  having  a  similar  tend- 
ency. 

Every  physician  knows  too  well  the  powerful  in- 
fluence of  hereditary  causes  in  determining  the  length 
of  human  life.  Persons,  one  or  both  of  whose  parents 
have  died  of  consumption,  are  very  likely  to  die  of 
the  same  disease,  and  frequently  at  about  the  same  age. 
The  children  of  such  parents  are  commonly  feeble  and 
puny,  and  die  early,  if  they  survive  infancy.  AVhen 
both  parents  possess  the  consumptive  tendency,  the 
chance  for  life  in  the  offspring  is  very  poor  indeed. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  those  suffering  with  cancer, 
epilepsy,  insanity,  etc.  Persons  with  a  strong  tend- 
ency to  any  one  of  the  diseases  mentioned,  should  in 
no  case  marry.  If  there  is  but  a  slight  morbid  tend- 
ency, marriage  may  be  admissible,  but  only  with  a 
partner  possessing  robust  health. 

3.  Shoidd  cousins  marry? 

Writers  have  devoted  a  good  deal  of  attention  to 
this  subject,  and  we  have  been  shown  statistics,  reports 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  179 


of  imbecile  asylums,  etc.,  for  the  purpose  of  proving 
that  the  marriage  of  cousins  results  in  the  production 
of  idiots,  and  children  defective  in  other  ways ;  but  the 
results  of  a  more  careful  examination  of  the  subject 
invalidate  the  views  heretofore  held,  and  it  must  be 
acknowledged  that  when  both  parties  are  healthy,  there 
is  no  more  liability  of  mental  incompetency  in  the  chil- 
dren of  cousins  than  in  the  offspring  of  persons  more 
remotely  related.  It  must  be  added,  however,  that 
there  are  other  reasons  why  the  marriage  of  cousins 
is  not  to  be  generally  recommended.  Besides  the  fact 
that  the  feeling  existing  between  cousins  is  often  only 
that  which  is  felt  by  brothers  and  sisters  for  each 
other,  there  is  the  still  more  important  fact  that  on 
account  of  the  blood  relation,  unions  of  this  kind  are 
more  apt  than  others  to  bring  together  persons  having 
similar  morbid  tendencies. 

4.  Persons  having  serious  congenital  deformities 
should  not  marry. 

The  reason  for  this  rule  is  obvious.  Persons  suffer- 
ing with  serious  congenital  defects,  as  natural  blind- 
ness, deafness,  deformity  of  the  limbs,  or  defective 
development  of  anj^  part,  will  be  more  or  less  likely 
to  transmit  the  same  deformities  or  deficiencies  to  their 
children.  There  are,  of  course,  cases  of  natural  blind- 
ness, as  well  as  of  disability  in  other  respects,  to  which 
this  rule  does  not  apply,  the  natural  process  of  devel- 
opment not  being  seriously  defective.  It  has  even  been 
observed  that  there  is  a  slight  tendency  to  the  repro- 
duction in  the  offspring  of  deformity  which  has  been 
artificially  produced  in  the  parents,  and  has  existed 
for  a  long  time. 

Many  ancient  nations  observe  this  rule.  Infants 
born  cripples  were  strangled  at  birth  or  left  to  die.    A 


180  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

Spartan  king  was  once  required  by  liis  people  to  pay 
a  heavy  fine  for  taking  a  wife  who  was  inferior  in  size. 

5.  Criminals  should  not  marry. 

It  lias  been  satisfactorily  shown  by  thorough  and 
scientific  investigation  that  criminals  often  receive  their 
evil  proclivities  from  their  parents.  What  are  known 
as  the  criminal  classes,  which  are  responsible  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  crime  committed,  are  constantly 
and  greatly  on  the  increase.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
that  inheritance  is  largely  responsible  for  the  continued 
increase  of  crime  and  criminals.  A  drunkard  begets 
in  his  child  a  thirst  for  liquor,  which  is  augmented  by 
the  mother's  use  of  ale  or  lager  during  gestation  and 
nursing,  and  the  child  enters  the  world  with  a  natural 
taste  for  intoxicants. 

A  thief  transmits  to  his  offspring  a  secretive,  dishon- 
est, sneaking  disposition;  and  the  child  comes  into  the 
world  ticketed  for  the  state  prison  by  the  nearest  route. 
So  with  other  evil  tendencies.  By  legislation  or  by 
some  other  means,  measures  should  be  speedily  adopted 
for  the  prevention  of  this  increase  of  criminals,  if  there 
is  any  feasible  plan  which  can  be  adopted.  We  offer 
no  suggestion  on  this  point,  but  it  is  one  well  worthy 
of  the  consideration  of  philanthropic  statesmen. 

6.  Persons  ivlio  are  greatly  disproportionate  in  size 
should  not  marry. 

Wliile  good  taste  would  suggest  the  propriety  of 
this  rule,  there  are  important  physiological  reasons 
for  its  observance.  While  the  lack  of  physical  adapti- 
tude  may  be  the  occasion  of  much  suffering  and  un- 
happiness  in  such  unions,  especially  on  the  part  of  the 
wife,  being  even  productive  of  most  serious  local  dis- 
ease, and  sometimes  of  sterility,  it  is  in  childbirth  that 
the  greatest  risk  and  suffering  is  incurred.    More  might 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  181 


be  said  on  this  point,  bnt  this  is  sufficient  for  those  who 
are  willing  to  profit  by  a  useful  hint. 

7.  Persons  behveen  ivhom  there  is  a  great  disparity 
of  age  should  not  marry. 

The  reasons  for  this  have  already  been  given  at 
length,  and  we  will  not  repeat.  In  general,  the  hus- 
band should  be  older  than  the  wife,  from  two  to  five 
years.  The  husband  may  often  be  ten  or  twelve  years 
the  senior  of  the  wife;  but  when  more  than  that,  the 
union  is  not  likely  to  be  a  profitable  or  happy  one,  if 
it  is  not  absolutely  productive  of  suffering  and  unhap- 
piness.  The  ancient  Greeks  required  that  the  husband 
should  be  twenty  years  older  than  the  wife;  but  this 
custom  was  no  more  reasonable  than  that  of  another 
nation  which  required  that  only  old  and  young  should 
marry,  so  that  the  sobriety  of  the  old  might  restrain 
the  frivolity  of  the  young. 

8.  Persons  who  are  extremely  unlike  in  tempera- 
ment should  not  marry. 

Persons  who  are  so  unlike  in  temperament  and 
tastes  as  to  have  no  mutual  enjoyments,  no  congeniality 
of  feeling,  will  be  incompatible  as  husband  and  wife, 
and  the  union  of  such  persons  will  be  anything  but 
felicitous.  No  definite  rule  can  be  laid  down ;  but  those 
seeking  a  companion  for  life  would  do  well  to  bear  this 
caution  in  mind,  at  the  same  time  remembering  that 
too  great  similarity  of  character,  especially  when  there 
are  prominent  defects,  is  equally  undesirable. 

9.  Marriage  between  ividely  different  races  is  un- 
advisahle. 

While  there  is  no  moral  precept  directly  involved  in 
marriage  between  widely  different  nations,  as  between 
whites  and  blacks  or  Indians,  experience  shows  that 
such  marriages  are  not  only  not  conducive  to  happi- 


182  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

ness,  but  are  detrimental  to  the  offspring.  It  has  been 
proved  beyond  room  for  question  that  mulattoes  are 
not  so  long-lived  as  either  blacks  or  whites. 

10.  Persons  who  are  unable  to  sustain  themselves 
or  a  family  should  not  marry. 

Both  moral  and  social  obligations— if  the  two  ob- 
ligations may  exist  independently— forbid  marriage  to 
a  young  man  who  is  scarcely  able  to  provide  for  him- 
self, much  less  to  support  a  wife  and  family.  The 
theory  advocated  by  some,  that  two  can  live  almost  as 
cheaply  as  one,  so  that  a  saving  will  be  made  by  a 
union  of  two  in  marriage,  is  a  most  fallacious  one. 
There  may  be  occasional  exceptions,  but  in  general, 
young  people  who  marry  with  this  idea  in  their  heads, 
find  that  they  have  reasoned  not  wisely.  It  will  not  be 
disputed  that  a  married  couple  may  live  upon  what 
is  often  spent  foolishly  by  a  young  man;  but  a  young 
man  can  be  economical  if  he  will;  and  if  he  does  not 
learn  economy  before  marriage,  it  is  likely  that  he 
never  will  learn  it. 

The  marriage  of  paupers,  to  beget  pauper  children 
and  foist  them  upon  the  community  for  support,  is  an 
outrage  against  society.  We  believe  it  is  not  improper 
to  speak  out  plainly  upon  this  subject,  and  in  no  un- 
certain tone,  notwithstanding  the  popular  prejudice 
which  cries,  ''Hush,  be  quiet;  don't  interfere  with  in- 
dividual rights,  don't  disturb  the  peace  of  society," 
whenever  anything  is  said  that  has  a  bearing  on  a 
regard  for  propriety  in  matters  relating  to  one  of  the 
most  ancient,  the  most  sacred,  and  the  most  abused 
of  all  divinely  appointed  human  institutions.  We  have 
never  been  able  to  account  for  this  strange  averseness 
to  the  consideration  of  this  phase  of  the  matrimonial 
question,  and  the  determined  effort  often  made  to  ig- 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  183 


nore  it  whenever  it  is  broached.  We  purpose  to  speak 
ont,  notwithstanding  the  feeling  referred  to,  since  we 
believe  this  to  be  a  crying  evil;  and  we  have  no  fears 
bnt  that  we  shall  have  the  hearty  indorsement  of  every 
individual  who  can  so  far  lay  aside  his  prejudices  as 
to  allow  his  native  common  sense  a  fair  chance  to  in- 
fluence his  judgment. 

In  the  country  of  Iceland,  a  land  which  is  scarcely 
more  than  semi-civilized,  if  a  young  man  wishes  to 
marry,  the  first  thing  to  be  considered  is  his  pecuniary 
situation.  Before  he  can  take  to  himself  a  wife,  he 
must  appear  before  the  proper  authority,  and  present 
evidence  that  he  is  able  to  support  a  wife  and  family  in 
addition  to  providing  for  himself.  Even  the  barbarous 
natives  of  Patagonia  show  an  equal  degree  of  good 
sense,  the  chief  of  each  tribe  requiring  that  every  young 
man  who  wishes  to  marry  shall  first  prove  himself  com- 
petent to  provide  for  a  family,  having  attained  the 
requisite  degree  of  proficiency  in  hunting  and  fishing, 
and  having  possessed  himself  of  at  least  two  horses 
and  the  necessary  equipments. 

In  this  country,—  a  civilized,  so-called  Christian 
country,  blessed  with  all  the  enlightenment  of  the  nine- 
teenth century,— what  do  we  see?  Instead  of  any  regu- 
lation of  tlie  sort,  there  is  the  utmost  indifference  to 
such  clearly  important  considerations.  If  young  people 
profess  to  love  each  other,  and  wish  to  marry,  no  one 
of  their  friends  thinks  of  asking,  ^'How  are  they  going 
to  live  after  they  are  married!  Has  the  young  man  a 
trade?  Has  the  young  lady  been  so  educated  as  to  be 
self-sustaining  if  necessary!  Has  the  young  man  a 
home  or  the  wherewithal  to  obtain  one  ?  Has  he  a  good 
situation,  with  prospects  of  being  able  to  support  his 
wife  comfortably  and  provide  for  a  family?"    These 


184  PLAI]^    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

or  similar  questions  are  sometimes  asked,  but  little 
respect  is  paid  to  tliem  by  any  one,  least  of  all  by  the 
young  people  themselves,  who  ought  to  be  most  inter- 
ested. The  minister  never  inquires  respecting  the  pro- 
priety of  the  wedding  at  which  he  is  to  officiate,  and 
invokes  the  blessings  of  Heaven  upon  a  union  which, 
for  ought  he  knows,  may  be  the  grossest  violation  of 
immutable  laws  Heaven-implanted  in  the  constitution 
of  the  human  race.  The  friends  tender  their  congratu- 
lations and  wishes  of  "much  joy,"  when  in  three  cases 
out  of  four  the  conditions  are  such  that  a  preponder- 
ance of  grief  is  an  inevitable  certainty,  and  "much 
joy"  an  utter  impossibility. 

There  are  exceptions  to  all  general  rules;  but  it  is 
a  fact  of  which  almost  any  one  may  convince  himself, 
that  the  majority  of  men  and  women  do  not  rise  much 
higher  than  the  level  reached  at  marriage.  If  a  young 
man  has  no  trade  then,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  he 
will  never  be  master  of  one.  If  he  has  not  fitted  him- 
self for  a  profession,  he  will  most  likely  never  attain  to 
such  a  rank  in  society.  He  will,  in  all  probability,  be 
a  common  laborer,  living  "from  hand  to  mouth,"  with 
nothing  laid  by  for  a  rainy  day. 

A  wag  says  that  a  young  couple  just  married,  and 
for  the  first  time  awakened  to  the  full  consciousness  of 
the  fact  that  they  must  provide  for  themselves  or 
starve,  held  the  following  dialogue:  Husband.— '^ Well, 
wife,  what  are  we  going  to  do?  How  shall  we  live!" 
Wife.— ^^  Oh,  my  dear,  we  shall  get  along  very  well,  I 
am  sure;  you  love  me,  don't  you?"  IZ".— "Certainly, 
dear,  but  we  cannot  live  on  love."  TF.— "We  can  live 
on  bread  and  water ;  so  long  as  we  have  each  other,  it 
doesn't  matter  much  what  we  have  to  eat."  H.— 
"That's  so,  my  dear;  well,  you  furnish  the  bread,  and 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  185 


I  will  skirmish  around  after  the  water."  This  exact 
dialogue  may  never  have  taken  place;  but  the  circum- 
stances which  might  have  called  it  out  have  occurred 
thousands  of  times.  How  many  times  has  a  dependent 
woman,  who  had  hastily  married  an  improvident  hus- 
band, awakened  at  the  end  of  a  short  honejTnoon  to 
find  that  she  had  only  a  limber  stick  or  a  broken  reed 
to  lean  upon,  instead  of  a  self-reliant,  independent, 
self-sustaining  man,  able  to  provide  for  her  the  com- 
forts of  a  home  and  to  protect  her  from  the  rudeness 
and  suffering  of  privation  and  want! 

In  our  estimation,  it  is  as  much  a  sin  for  a  man  to 
assume  the  obligation  of  caring  for  a  wife  and  family 
when  he  has  no  reasonable  grounds  for  believing  him- 
self able  to  do  so,  as  for  a  man  to  go  in  debt  a  few 
hundreds  or  thousands  of  dollars,  and  agree  to  pay 
the  same  when  required,  though  perfectly  well  aware 
that  he  will  probably  be  unable  to  do  so.  Hence  we 
say  again,  with  emphasis,  The  improvident  should  not 
marry ;  and  we  shall  insist  upon  urging  this  truth,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  the  very  class  of  persons 
referred  to  are  usually  of  all  classes  the  most  anxious 
to  enter  the  matrimonial  state  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment,  and  the  most  certain  to  bring  into  the  world 
large  families  of  children  still  more  improvident  than 
themselves. 

11.  Do  not  marry  a  person  whose  moral  character 
will  not  hear  the  closest  scrutiny. 

By  this  we  do  not  mean  that  absolute  perfection 
should  be  required,  as  this  would  interdict  marriage 
altogether;  but  we  wish  to  warn  every  young  man 
against  marrying  a  young  woman  who  treats  lightly 
or  contemptuously  matters  which  should  be  treated 
with  profound  respect ;  who  uses  the  name  of  the  Deity 


186  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

flil^pantly  or  rudely ;  who  treats  her  parents  disrespect- 
fully ;  who  never  cares  to  talk  of  subjects  of  a  spiritual 
nature;  who  is  giddy,  gay,  dressy,  thoughtless,  fickle. 
Such  a  young  woman  will  never  make  a  loving,  patient, 
faithful,  helpful  wife. 

We  wish  also  to  warn  every  young  woman  against 
choosing  for  a  husband  a  man  who  has  a  strong  leaning 
toward  infidelity;  who  does  not  believe  in  human  re- 
sponsibility; who  makes  a  mock  of  religion;  who  is 
addicted  to  profanity;  who  is  either  grossly  intem- 
perate or  given  to  moderate  tippling,  be  it  ever  so  little, 
so  long  as  he  does  not  believe  in  and  jDractice  total 
abstinence;  who  uses  tobacco;  who  is  a  jockey,  a  fop, 
a  loafer,  a  scheming  dreamer,  or  a  speculator;  who  is 
known  to  be  unchaste,  or  who  has  led  a  licentious  life. 

The  man  who  has  no  love  for  his  Maker  will  be 
likely  to  have  little  for  his  wife  and  children.  He  who 
does  not  acknowledge  his  responsibility  to  a  higher 
Power,  will  soon  forget  his  obligation  to  the  wife  he 
has  promised  to  love  and  cherish.  The  man  who  is  not 
willing  to  sacrifice  the  gratification  afforded  by  such 
pernicious  habits  as  dram-drinking  and  tobacco-using 
to  insure  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  his  wife  and 
children,  is  too  selfish  to  make  any  woman  a  kind  hus- 
band. 

There  is  no  greater  error  abroad  than  that  held  by 
not  a  few,  that  ''a  reformed  rake  makes  the  best  hus- 
band. ' '  The  man  whose  affections  have  been  consumed 
in  the  fires  of  unhallowed  lust,  is  incapable  of  giving 
a  pure-minded  woman  the  love  that  she  expects  and 
deserves.  A  person  cannot  pass  through  the  fire  un- 
scathed. The  scars  burned  into  the  character  by  the 
flames  of  concupiscence  are  as  deep  and  lasting  as  those 
inflicted  upon  the  body,  and  even  more  so.    Only  ''in 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  187 


the  regeneration"  will  the  marks  and  scars  of  the  re- 
formed reprobate  be  wholly  effaced. 

We  willingly  grant  that  there  have  been  numerous 
instances  in  which  noble  women  have,  by  years  of  pa- 
tient effort,  reformed  their  erring  husbands,  and  re- 
stored them  to  the  paths  of  virtue  and  sobriety  from 
which  they  had  wandered.  We  do  not  deny  that  it  can 
be  done  again;  but  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the 
experiment  is  a  most  perilous  one  for  any  woman  to 
undertake,  and  one  which  not  more  than  one  woman 
in  a  hundred  can  bring  to  a  successful  termination. 
The  hazard  is  terrible.  Perhaps  it  is  on  this  very  ac- 
count that  many  young  women  run  the  risk;  but  they 
rarely  understand  what  they  are  doing.  The  woman 
who  marries  a  drunkard,  will,  ten  chances  to  one,  die 
a  heart-broken  drunkard's  wife,  or  follow  her  husband 
to  a  drunkard's  grave.  It  is  never  safe  for  a  woman 
to  marry  a  man  who  has  been  for  years  a  habitual 
drunkard,  since  he  may  relapse  at  any  time;  and  the 
man  who  has  only  indulged  moderately,  should  be  thor- 
oughly reformed  and  tested  before  the  chances  are 
taken  ''for  better  or  for  worse."  Let  him  prove  him- 
self well  first.  A  proposition  to  reform  on  condition 
of  marriage  should  be  dismissed  with  disdain.  If  a 
young  man  will  not  determine  to  do  right  because  it 
is  right,  his  motives  are  sordid;  and  the  probability 
is  very  great  that  as  soon  as  some  stronger  incentive 
appeals  to  his  selfishness,  he  will  forget  his  vows  and 
promises  and  relapse  into  his  former  vices 


188  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 


CONTINENCE 

Continence  differs  from  chastity  in  being  entire  re- 
straint from  sexual  indulgence  under  all  circumstances, 
while  chastity  is  only  restraint  from  unlawful  indul- 
gence. Many  of  the  observations  on  the  subject  of 
' '  Chastity ' '  apply  with  equal  force  to  continence.  The 
causes  of  incontinence  are  the  same  as  those  of  un- 
chastity.  The  same  relation  also  exists  between  mental 
and  physical  continence  as  between  mental  and  phys- 
ical chastity. 

The  subject  of  continence  evidently  has  a  somewhat 
wider  scope  than  that  of  chastity,  as  generally  under- 
stood; but  as  we  have  considered  the  latter  subject  so 
fully,  we  shall  devote  less  space  to  this,  leaving  the 
reader  to  make  the  application  of  such  preceding  re- 
marks as  reason  may  suggest  to  him  are  equally  appro- 
priate here. 

Without  stopping  to  consider  the  various  circum- 
stances under  which  absolute  continence  is  expedient, 
or  desirable,  or  morally  required,  we  will  proceed  at 
once  to  examine  the  question,  Is  continence  harmful! 

Continence  Not  Injurious.— It  has  been  claimed 
by  many,  even  by  physicians,  and  though  with  slight 
show  of  reason,  that  absolute  continence,  after  full 
development  of  the  organs  of  reproduction,  could  not  be 
maintained  without  great  detriment  to  health.  It  is 
needless  to  enumerate  all  the  different  arguments  em- 
ployed to  support  this  position,  since  they  are,  with  a 
few  exceptions,  too  frivolous  to  deserve  attention.  We 
shall  content  ourselves  chiefly  with  quotations  from  ac- 
knowledged authorities,  by  which  we  shall  show  that 
the  popular  notions  upon  this  subject  are  wholly  erro- 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  189 


neous.  Their  general  acceptance  has  been  due,  with- 
out doubt,  to  the  strong  natural  bias  in  their  favor.  It 
is  an  easy  matter  to  believe  what  agrees  well  with  one 's 
predilections.  A  bare  surmise,  on  the  side  of  preju- 
dice, is  more  telling  than  the  most  powerful  logic  on  the 
other  side. 

*'We  know  that  this  opinion  is  held  by  men  of  the 
world,  and  that  many  physicians  share  it.  This  belief 
appears  to  us  to  be  erroneous,  without  foundation,  and 
easily  refuted.* 

The  same  writer  claims  'Hhat  no  peculiar  disease 
nor  any  abridgment  of  the  duration  of  life  can  be 
ascribed  to  such  continence."  He  proves  his  position 
by  appealing  to  statistics,  and  shows  the  fallacy  of 
arguments  in  support  of  the  contrary  view.  He  fur- 
ther says : 

'^It  is  determined,  in  our  opinion,  that  the  com- 
merce of  the  sexes  has  no  necessities  that  cannot  be 
restrained  without  peril." 

*'A  part  has  been  assigned  to  spermatic  plethora 
in  the  etiology  of  various  mental  affections.  Among 
others,  priapism  has  been  attributed  to  it.  In  our 
opinion,  this  malady  originates  in  a  disturbance  of 
the  cerebral  nerve  power;  but  it  is  due  much  less 
to  the  retention  of  sperm  than  to  its  exaggerated 
loss;  much  less  to  virtuous  abstinence  than  to  moral 
depravity. ' ' 

There  has  evidently  been  a  wide-spread  deception 
upon  this  subject.  "Health  does  not  absolutely  require 
that  there  should  ever  be  an  emission  of  semen,  from 
puberty  to  death,  though  the  individual  live  a  hundred 
years;  and  the  frequency  of  involuntary  nocturnal 
emissions  is  an  indubitable  proof  that  the  parts,  at 

*  Mayer.  12 


190  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

least,  are  suffering  under  a  debility  and  morbid  irri- 
tability utterly  incompatible  with  the  general  welfare 
of  the  system." 

Continence  Does  Not  Produce  Impotence.  —  It 
has  been  declared  that  strict  continence  would  result 
in  impotence.  The  falsity  of  this  argument  is  clearly 
shown  by  the  following  observations: 

''There  exists  no  greater  error  than  this,  nor  one 
more  opposed  to  physiological  truth.  In  the  first  place, 
I  may  state  that  I  have,  after  many  years'  experience, 
never  seen  a  single  instance  of  atrophy  of  the  gener- 
ative organs  from  this  cause.  I  have,  it  is  true,  met 
the  complaint;  but  in  what  class  of  cases  does  it  occur'? 
—It  arises,  in  all  instances,  from  the  exactly  opposite 
cause,  abuse;  the  organs  become  worn  out,  and  hence 
arises  atrophy.  Physiologically  considered,  it  is  not 
a  fact  that  the  power  of  secreting  semen  is  annihilated 
in  well-formed  adults  leading  a  healthy  life,  and  yet 
remaining  continent.  No  continent  man  need  be  de- 
terred by  this  apocryphal  fear  of  atrophy  of  the  testes, 
from  living  a  chaste  life.  It  is  a  device  of  the  unchaste, 
a  lame  excuse  for  their  own  incontinence,  unfounded 
on  any  physiological  law."  * 

The  eminent  Dr.  Joseph  Hutchinson,  of  London, 
states  emphatically  that  impotence  is  never  the  result 
of  continence.  It  is  unquestionably  true,  however,  that 
serious  injury  may  result  from  prolonged  and  un- 
gratified  sexual  excitement,  often  greater  than  from 
frequent  gratification  in  a  normal  way;  nevertheless, 
this  is  no  apology  for  incontinence,  as  the  troublesome 
excitement  is  not  a  physiological  condition,  but  is  the 
result  of  a  bad  mental  state,  the  mind  being  allowed 
to  run  upon  sensual  subjects,  which  is,  beyond  ques- 
tion,  mentally   and   morally,    as   well   as   physically, 

*  Acton. 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  191 


wrong.  Sexual  excitement  arising  from  constipation 
of  the  bowels,  or  from  any  form  of  local  disease,  is  a 
morbid  condition  which  is  aggravated  rather  than  re- 
lieved by  gratification.  Hence  a  morbid  desire  for 
sexual  gratification  is  under  no  circumstances  an  apol- 
ogy for  indulgence. 

A  Hint  from  Lower  Animals.—  The  truth  of 
these  statements  has  been  amply  confirmed  by  experi- 
ments upon  animals,  as  well  as  by  the  experience  of 
some  of  the  most  distinguished  men,  who  have  ever 
lived,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Sir  Isaac  New- 
ton, Kant,  Paschal,  Fontenaille  and  Michael  Angelo. 
These  men  never  married,  and  lived  continent  lives. 
Some  of  them  lived  to  a  very  great  age,  retaining  to 
the  last  their  wonderful  abilities.  In  view  of  this  fact, 
there  is  certainly  no  danger  that  any  young  man  will 
suffer  injury  by  the  restraining  of  his  passions  within 
the  limits  of  divine  and  natural  law. 

The  complaint  is  made  by  those  whose  lives  have 
been  far  otherwise  than  continent,  that  abstinence  oc- 
casions suffering  from  which  indulgence  gives  relief. 
The  writer  just  referred  to  (Acton)  further  says  that 
when  such  a  patient  consults  a  medical  man,  ' '  he  should 
be  told— and  the  result  would  soon  prove  the  correct- 
ness of  the  advice— that  attention  to  diet,  gymnastic 
exercise,  and  self-control  will  most  effectually  relieve 
the  symptoms." 

Difficulty  of  Continence.  —  Some  there  are  who 
urge  that  self-denial  is  difficult;  that  the  natural 
promptings  are  imperious.  From  this  they  argue  that 
it  cannot  but  be  right  to  gratify  so  strong  a  passion. 

If  rigid  continence  is  maintained  from  the  first,  the 
struggle  with  the  passions  will  not  be  nearly  so  severe 
as  after  they  have  once  been  allowed  to  gain  the  as- 


192  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

cendency.  On  this  point,  the  following  remarks  by 
Mayer  are  very  just: 

"At  the  outset,  the  sexual  necessities  are  not  so  un- 
controlled as  is  generally  supposed,  and  they  can  be 
put  down  by  the  exercise  of  a  little  energetic  will. 
There  is,  therefore,  as  it  appears  to  us,  as  much  injus- 
tice in  accusing  nature  of  disorders  which  are  depend- 
ent upon  the  genital  senses,  badly  directed,  as  there 
would  be  in  attributing  to  it  a  sprain  or  a  fracture  acci- 
dentally produced." 

It  would  be  just  as  reasonable  to  offer  the  appetite 
for  liquor  as  an  apology  for  its  use,  and  a  good  evi- 
dence of  the  physiological  necessity  for  alcoholic  stim- 
ulants, as  to  argue  that  sexual  indulgence  is  a  physio- 
logical need  for  the  individual,  whereas  no  such 
necessity  exists  unless  produced  by  erotic  thoughts  or 
other  conditions  within  the  individual's  own  control, 
or  by  morbid  or  diseased  conditions  which  require  med- 
ical treatment  for  their  removal,  and  which  will  be 
aggravated,  rather  than  alleviated,  by  the  gratifica- 
tion of  the  desire  for  indulgence. 

Internal  Secretions. —Bouchard,  the  distin- 
guished French  physiologist,  has  shown  that  the 
character  of  all  cells  within  the  body  of  an  animal, 
depends  upon  the  influence  of  certain  subtle  substances 
in  the  fluids  of  the  individual,  which,  altliough  so  small 
in  amount  that  they  have,  until  recently,  evaded  the 
closest  scrutiny  of  the  physiologist  and  the  chemist, 
are  nevertheless  so  potent  in  their  influence  upon  the 
animal  organism  that  they  practically  control  every 
function,  from  the  first  step  of  nutrition  in  the  diges- 
tion of  the  food,  to  the  final  process  of  assimilation  in 
the  conversion  of  food  elements  into  tissue. 

These  peculiar  substances,  known  as  ' '  internal  secre- 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  193 


tions,"  are  formed  by  the  suprarenal  capsules  of  the 
kidney,  the  thyroid  gland,  the  sexual  glands,  and  other 
so-called  ductless  glands.  It  is  known  that  the  removal 
of  the  thyroid  gland  from  the  body  of  an  animal  will 
produce  death  by  the  development  of  a  peculiar  form  of 
disease;  but  if  an  extract  of  thyroid  gland,  made  by 
macerating  the  gland  in  water,  is  injected  into  the 
body  of  the  animal  from  time  to  time,  the  injurious 
effects  ordinarily  resulting  from  the  removal  of  the 
gland  do  not  appear. 

More  recent  experiments  have  shown  that  every 
tissue  produces  certain  substances  which,  circulating 
in  the  blood,  modify  every  other  tissue,  thus  producing 
unity  and  harmony  in  the  development  of  the  various 
organs  of  the  body,  independent  of  the  nervous  system, 
thus  explaining  what  has  heretofore  been  one  of  the 
greatest  mysteries  of  animal  physiology. 

The  bearing  of  these  discoveries  upon  sexual  hy- 
giene is  very  obvious  and  highly  important.  These 
investigations  have  shown  that  the  sexual  glands  are 
useful,  not  only  as  a  means  of  race-perpetuation,  but 
for  the  physical  well-being  of  the  individual,  through 
the  vital  stimulus  exercised  by  them,  through  the  influ- 
ence of  their  peculiar  secretion  upon  the  processes  of 
development  and  nutrition.  In  view  of  this  fact,  it  is 
evident  that,  so  far  as  the  individual  is  concerned,  phys- 
ical benefit  is  to  be  looked  for,  not  in  the  loss  of  the 
secretion  of  the  sexual  glands,  but  in  its  retention  and 
appropriation.  In  other  words,  reproduction  is  accom- 
plished at  the  sacrifice  of  individual  interests,  a  law 
which  prevails  throughout  the  whole  organic  world, 
being,  in  some  instances,  so  pronounced  that  the  devel- 
opment of  progeny  is  accomplished  only  through  the 
death  of  one  or  both  parents. 


194 


PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNG 


These  discoveries  afford  a  thoroughly  satisfactory 
and  scientific  explanation  of  two  facts  which  heretofore 
have  rested  solely  upon  the  basis  of  observation  and 
experience : 

1.  That  continence  is  favorable  to  physical  vigor. 

2.  That  sexual  intemperance  is  productive  of  ex- 
haustion and  debility  to  a  most  extraordinary  degree. 

The  influence  of  the  sexual  glands  upon  development 
has  been  understood  from  very  early  ages.  The  influ- 
ence of  the  removal  of  these  glands  in  the  equine  or 

bovine  race  is  well  known.  The 
proudly  arched  neck,  the  grace- 
ful roundness  of  trunk  and 
limbs,  and  the  magnificent 
courage  and  vigor  of  the  stal- 
lion, are  not  found  in  the  muti- 
lated animal.  The  massive 
head  and  horns,  the  flashing 
eye,  the  terrible  majesty  of  the 
bull,  are  never  encountered 
in  the  castrated  animal  of  the 
same  species,  the  meek-eyed  ox. 
The  differences  in  size,  appear- 
ance, and  character  which  ex- 
ist between  the  horse  and  the  stallion,  between  the 
ox  and  the  bull,  are  purely  the  result  of  the  loss  of 
the  magic  influence  of  the  secretion  of  the  sexual  glands, 
as  a  stimulus  to  development  and  a  regulator  of  the 
nutritive  processes. 

The  removal  of  the  sexual  glands  before  puberty, 
or  the  failure  of  their  development  from  any  cause, 
gives  rise  to  similar  differences  in  the  human  male. 
A  few  years  ago  we  saw  an  interesting  example  of  this 
fact.     A  young  man  between  twenty  and  twenty-five 


Fig.  1. 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE 


L95 


years  of  age  presented  himself  for  examination  with 
reference  to  a  condition  which  he  supposed  might  be 
remedied  by  a  surgical  operation.  On  examination, 
we  found  no  evidence  whatever  of  the  presence  of  the 
sexual  glands  in  the  usual  location,  and  learned  from 
the  young  man  that  he  had  been  informed  that  the 
glands  had  remained  in  the  abdomen,  having  failed  to 
descend  at  the  proper  period  before  birth.  Careful  ex- 
amination satisfied  us  that  the  glands  were  present  in 
only  a  rudimentary  state.  On  further  investigation,  we 
found  that  the  young  man 
presented  many  evidences 
of  the  lack  of  the  influence 
of  these  glands  upon  devel- 
opment. His  hips  were 
broad  and  his  thighs  large, 
like  those  of  a  young  woman, 
while  his  shoulders  were 
narrow.  The  difference  be- 
tween the  breadth  of  shoul- 
ders and  hips  was  only  half 
what  it  should  be.  The  ster- 
n  u  m  was  proportionately 
short,  as  in  women.  There 
was  an  entire  absence  of  beard  and  other  external 
evidences  of  development,  the  external  genital  or- 
gans being  infantile  in  appearance.  Notwithstanding 
the  feminine  appearance  presented  by  the  young  man 
in  many  respects,  the  legs  and  arms  were  long,  as  in 
men,  and  the  case  was  evidently  not  of  the  mixed  but 
of  the  neuter  type.  In  Fig.  1  is  a  reproduction  of  a 
photograph  of  this  young  man.  In  Fig.  2  his  outline 
(C)  is  placed,  for  comparison,  between  the  outlines  of 
a  typical  man  (A)  and  a  typical  woman  (B). 


196  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUISKJ 

The  loss  of  the  influence  of  the  sexual  glands  results 
in  the  production  of  an  effeminate  man,  while  the  re- 
moval of  these  glands  in  a  young  woman  who  has  not 
reached  the  age  of  jDuberty  produces  a  mannish  woman. 
It  appears,  then,  that  the  influence  of  the  sexual  glands 
is  to  develop,  in  man,  manly  characteristics,  or  those 
special  features  which  contribute  to  make  up  man- 
hood; while  the  sexual  glands  of  woman  produce  in 
her  those  qualities  and  characteristics  which  are  espe- 
cially womanly. 

Within  the  last  twenty  years,  in  dealing  profession- 
ally with  some  ten  or  twelve  thousand  cases  of  men  who 
have  been,  in  various  ways  and  various  degrees,  trans- 
gressors of  the  law  of  chastity,  we  ha^/e  particularly 
noted  the  frequency  of  effeminacy  in  appearance  as  a 
characteristic  of  those  cases  in  which,  habits  of  sexual 
indulgence  had  been  begun  before  puberty,  and  prac- 
ticed to  a  considerable  extent  during  the  developmental 
period,  showing  that  the  excessive  loss  of  the  activity 
of  the  sexual  glands  in  a  normally  developed  person 
produces  results  analogous  to  those  which  follow  the 
extirpation  of  the  glands. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  we  can  readily  understand 
why  the  acute  observation  of  the  trainers  of  the  Greek 
athletes  led  them  to  require,  as  one  of  the  conditions 
most  essential  to  the  development  of  the  highest  de- 
gree of  physical  vigor,  absolute  continence— not  simply 
temperance,  which  is  all  that  is  expected  by  most 
trainers  at  the  present  time.  The  conditions  of  Greek 
society  were  certainly  less  favorable  to  purity  and  con- 
tinence than  are  those  of  to-day;  yet  so  great  was  the 
ambition  of  the  Greek  to  win  a  prize  in  the  Olympian 
games  that  he  willingly  exercised  the  great  self-control 
necessary    under    the    peculiar    circumstances    under 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  197 

which  he  lived.  Plato,  in  his  ''Laws,"  makes  one  of 
his  characters  say,  '*So  then  they,  to  obtain  victory  in 
wrestling  and  running,  thus  abstained;  and  shall  our 
children  be  unable  to  persevere  for  a  far  nobler  vic- 
tory?"—a  statement  approved  by  the  apostle  Paul  in 
1  Cor.  9 :  25-27,  when  he  says,  ' '  Now  they  do  it  to  ob- 
tain a  corruptible  crown ;  but  we  an  incorruptible.  .  .  . 
But  I  keep  under  my  body  and  bring  it  into  subjection. " 

The  compensation  sought  by  the  Greek  for  the  re- 
straint of  his  animal  propensities,  was  to  become  a 
stronger  and  more  vigorous  animal;  and  in  this  he 
was  not  disappointed,  for  Plato  mentions  a  number  of 
celebrated  athletes,  among  others,  Astylos  and  Diopom- 
pos,  whose  bodies  were  ''much  lustier"  than  others. 
Having  praticed  total  continence  during  their  training, 
they  had  much  stronger  and  more  vigorous  bodies  than 
others  who  had  not  subjected  themselves  to  the  same 
restraints. 

The  doctrine  that  continence  is  unfavorable  to  health, 
if  true,  supplies  a  very  strong  argument  for  the  main- 
tenance of  a  harlot  class  for  the  benefit  of  soldiers  and 
sailors,  who,  for  the  most  part,  cannot  marry.  This 
doctrine  is  indeed  the  stronghold  of  the  apologists  for 
prostitution  and  of  the  advocates  of  laws  regulating 
vice.  The  considerafions  already  offered  seem  amply 
sufficient  to  show  the  fallacy  of  this  doctrine ;  neverthe- 
less, we  offer  a  few  additional  items  of  evidence,  in- 
cluding the  testimony  of  a  number  of  eminent  physi- 
cians. 

Dr.  James  Henderson,  a  physician  in  Shanghai, 
China,  writing  in  refutation  of  the  idea  that  continence 
is  more  difficult  or  dangerous  in  troj^ical  countries  than 
in  temperate  climates,  on  account  of  peculiar  climatic 
conditions,  says,  "I  have  seen  many  suffer  severely, 


198  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

destroying  their  health,  happiness,  and  life,  by  follow- 
ing the  promptings  of  their  unbridled  passions.  Need 
I  say  that  I  have  never  seen  a  man  suffer  from  keeping 
himself  pure?" 

In  the  course  of  our  own  professional  experience, 
we  have  never  met  with  a  single  instance  in  which  dis- 
ease of  any  kind  was  present  as  the  result  of  a  pure 
or  continent  life.  On  the  other  hand,  we  have  seen 
the  most  horrible  results  from  the  unlawful  and  un- 
professional advice  sometimes  given  by  physicians  to 
young  men,  suggesting  unchastity  as  being  essential 
for  the  relief  of  some  physical  weakness,  though  we 
have  never  met  with  a  single  case  in  which  the  slight- 
est benefit  had  been  derived  from  following  such  ad- 
vice. Observations  with  reference  to  the  character  of 
those  who  give  professional  advice  of  this  sort  have 
long  ago  led  us  to  the  belief  that,  as  a  rule,  only  those 
who  have  themselves  been  impure  to  such  an  extent 
that  they  were  bereft  of  their  ability  to  judge  prop- 
erly of  the  influence  of  a  pure  and  continent  life,  are 
capable  of  giving  such  unwise  and  immoral  advice. 

Acton,  an  eminent  London  physician,  declares  that 
the  claim  that  disease  results  from  continence  "is  a 
device  of  the  unchaste,  a  lame  excuse  for  their  own 
incontinence,  unfounded  on  any  physiological  law." 
The  same  writer  adds:  ''The  admitted  fact  that  con- 
tinence is  frequently  productive  of  distress,  is  often  a 
struggle  hard  to  be  borne,  still  harder  to  be  completely 
victorious  in,  is  not  to  be  at  all  regarded  as  an  argu- 
ment that  it  is  an  evil." 

These  statements  are  amply  confirmed  by  common 
experience  with  animals,  especially  in  Continental  Eu- 
rope, where  the  castration  of  working  animals  is  prac- 
ticed only  to  a  very  small  extent.     The  experience 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  199 


of  many  most  distinguished  men  must  also  be  quoted 
in  confirmation  of  these  statements.  Among  such 
men  may  be  mentioned  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  Kant, 
Paschal,  Michael  Angelo,  and  St.  Augustine,  with  many 
others  of  the  early  Catholic  fathers  who  were  among 
the  ablest  and  most  learned  men  of  their  time,  and  who 
led  continent  lives.  The  majority  of  these  men  lived 
to  a  very  great  age,  retaining  to  the  last  their  wonder- 
ful mental  powers. 

The  exorbitant  demands  of  the  sexual  appetite 
encountered  among  civilized  people  are  not  the  result 
of  a  normal  instinct,  but  are  due  to  the  incitements 
of  an  abnormally  stimulating  diet,  the  seductions  of 
prurient  literature  and  so-called  art,  and  the  tempta- 
tions of  impure  associations. 

The  relation  of  diet  to  impurity  is  one  which  is  far 
too  little  considered.  Certain  senses  are  given  us  to 
add  to  our  pleasure,  as  well  as  for  the  practical,  almost 
indispensable,  use  they  are  to  us.  For  instance,  the 
sense  of  sight  is  not  only  useful,  but  enables  us  to  drink 
in  beauty  without  stint,  and  receive  no  harm  thereby. 
The  same  is  true  of  music  and  other  harmonies  which 
may  come  to  us  through  the  sense  of  hearing.  But 
the  sense  of  taste  was  given  us  to  distinguish  be- 
tween wholesome  and  unwholesome  foods,  and  cannot 
be  used  for  merely  sensuous  gratification  without  de- 
basing it,  and  making  of  it  a  gross  and  harmful  thing. 
An  education  which  demands  special  enjoyment  or 
pleasure  through  the  sense  of  taste  is  wholly  artificial ; 
it  brings  us  down  to  the  animal  plane,  or  below  it, 
rather ;  for  the  instinct  of  the  brute  creation  teaches  it 
to  eat  to  live. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  unwholesome  food, 
especially  such  stimulating  articles  as  spices  and  other 


200  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

condiments,  and  the  excessive  use  of  flesh  food,  pastry, 
and  highly  seasoned  viands,  is  one  of  the  most  active 
causes  of  impurity  in  modern  times.  The  early  Ro- 
mans, who  fed  upon  the  simple  fruits  of  the  earth,  were 
as  chaste  in  morals  as  abstemious  in  diet;  but  under 
the  degrading  influence  of  a  luxurious  and  stimulating 
dietary,  the  Roman  emperors  developed  a  degree  of 
moral  turpitude  that  astonished  and  disgusted  even  the 
heathen  world  in  which  they  lived.  The  great  mon- 
archies which  once  ruled  the  world  became  immoral 
and  corrupt  only  when  their  citizens  became  wealthy, 
and  adopted  luxurious  modes  of  life.  Simplicity  in 
diet,  dress,  and  in  all  the  habits  of  life  is  most  con- 
ducive to  virtue. 

The  same  principle  applies  in  relation  to  sexual 
gratification  as  to  the  gratification  of  the  sense  of  taste. 
The  sexual  function  is  double  in  its  purposes;  first, 
the  sexual  organs  are  always  active,  even  when  not 
excited  to  such  a  degree  as  to  obtrude  their  activity 
upon  the  consciousness,  as  they  supply  the  body  with 
a  needed  vital  stimulus  and  regulator;  secondly,  they 
furnish  the  only  means  by  which  the  physical  life  of 
the  individual  and  the  perpetuation  of  the  race  may 
be  accomplished.  In  neither  of  these  important  func- 
tions is  the  personal  gratification  of  the  individual  the 
primary  consideration.  The  exercise  of  the  sexual 
function  with  a  purely  selfish  purpose  would  seem  to 
be  as  much  a  debasement  of  the  sacred  function  in 
which  man  approaches  most  nearly  to  the  creative 
power  of  which  he  is  the  image,  as  is  eating  for  the 
mere  gratification  of  the  palate  a  debasement  and  pros- 
titution of  the  appetite  and  the  sense  of  taste. 

Evil  association  is  often  the  avenue  through  which 
the  father  of  lies  and  iniquity  leads  his  victims  down 


SEXUAL.   HYGIENE  201 


to  ruin.  A  moral  contagion  is  abroad  in  the  world. 
The  troops  of  boys  of  all  ages,  from  five  to  twenty, 
seen  upon  the  streets  of  every  city,  sitting  on  the  curb- 
stones, loitering  about  the  corners,  gathering  here  and 
there  in  little  knots  from  which  the  ears  of  passers-by 
may  easily  catch  words  and  phrases  which  bring  the 
blush  to  virtue's  cheek,  are  evidence  that  parents  are 
by  no  means  generally  awake  to  the  danger  which  lies 
in  evil  companionship.  Many  boys,  especially  in  the 
cities,  are  allowed  after  they  reach  the  age  of  ten  or 
twelve  years,  to  select  their  own  associates;  and  it  is 
generally  the  case  that  the  association  most  easily 
formed  is  with  some  foul-minded  youth,  who  is  only 
too  anxious  to  impart  to  an  innocent  lad  the  evil  knowl- 
edge which  he  has  in  like  manner  gained  from  some 
other  boy-missionary  of  evil. 

Growing  up  thus,  with  an  abnormally  developed 
sexual  appetite,  it  is  not  strange  that  young  men  very 
readily  imbibe  current  notions  respecting  the  hygienic 
necessity  for  incontinence,  and  that  they  find  in  their 
own  experience  an  apparent  evidence  of  the  correct- 
ness of  this  most  pernicious  doctrine.  It  is  therefore 
highly  important  that  .a  warning  voice  should  be  raised, 
and  with  no  weak  or  uncertain  sound,  against  this  im- 
moral and  incontinent  teaching.  If  the  young  man 
finds  a  continent  life  extraordinarily  difficult  or  a  cause 
of  suffering,  he  should  be  informed  that  the  apparent 
necessity  is  purely  an  artificial  and  an  abnormal  one, 
and  is  either  the  result  of  a  sensuous  imagination  or 
of  morbid  conditions  which  require  medical  treatment, 
and  which  will  be  certain  to  be  aggravated  rather  than 
alleviated  by  the  gratification  of  the  desires.  The 
young  man  should  be  taught  so  to  order  his  habits  of 
life,  his  diet,  his  regimen,  his  exercise,  that  he  may 


202  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

be  enabled  to  maintain  self-mastery.  Plato  calls  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  the  man  who  reaches  a  high  degree 
of  physical  vigor  as  the  result  of  severe  training,  finds 
the  control  of  the  sexual  appetite  a  much  less  severe 
task  than  does  the  man  who  neglects  muscular  activity. 

The  value  of  a  simple  diet  and  active  muscular  exer- 
cise in  subduing  abnormal  animal  propensities,  the 
writer  has  proved  in  hundreds  of  cases  in  which  his 
prescription  has  been  carried  out  by  young  men  seek- 
ing relief  from  the  thraldom  of  clamorous  desires. 

The  purpose  in  this  chapter  has  been  to  show  from 
purely  physiological  considerations  that  unchastity  can 
be,  under  no  circumstances,  either  necessary  or  justi- 
fiable ;  that  science  and  religion,  the  teaching  of  nature 
and  of  the  decalogue,  are  in  accord;  tliat  chastity,  not 
incontinence,  is  the  law  of  nature.  The  considerations 
which  have  been  brought  forward  amply  justify  the 
assertion  that  continence  is  not  only  consistent  with 
the  highest  health  under  all  circumstances,  but  that  it 
is  one  of  the  conditions  essential  to  the  attainment  and 
maintenance  of  the  highest  degree  of  physical  and 
mental  vigor. 

Helps  to  Continence.— As  already  indicated,  and 
as  every  individual  with  strong  passions,  knows,  the 
warfare  with  passion  is  a  serious  one  if  a  person  deter- 
mines to  lead  a  continent  life.  He  needs  the  help  of 
every  aid  that  he  can  gain.  Some  of  these  may  be 
named  as  follows : 

The  Will.— A.  firm  determination  must  be  formed  to 
lead  a  life  of  purity;  to  quickly  quench  the  first  sug- 
gestions of  impurity ;  to  harbor  no  unchaste  desire ;  to 
purge  the  mind  of  carnal  thoughts ;  in  short,  to  cleave 
fast  to  mental  continence.  Each  triumph  over  vicious 
thoughts  will  strengthen  virtue;  each  victory  won  will 


SEXUAL   HYGIENE  203 


make  the  next  one  easier.  So  strong  a  habit  of  con- 
tinence may  be  formed  that  this  alone  will  be  a  bulwark 
against  vice. 

Diet. — He  who  would  keep  in  subjection  his  animal 
nature,  must  carefully  guard  the  portal  to  his  stomach. 
The  blood  is  made  of  what  is  eaten.  Irritating  food 
will  produce  irritating  blood.  Stimulating  foods  or 
drinks  will  surely  produce  a  corresponding  quality  of 
blood.  Irritating,  stimulating  blood  will  irritate  and 
stimulate  the  nervous  system,  and  especially  the  deli- 
cate nerves  of  the  reproductive  system,  as  previously 
explained.  Only  the  most  simple  and  wholesome  food 
should  be  eaten,  and  that  only  in  such  moderate  quan- 
tities as  are  required  to  replenish  the  tissues.  The 
custom  of  making  the  food  pungent  and  stimulating 
with  condiments,  is  the  great,  almost  the  sole,  cause 
of  gluttony.  It  is  one  of  the  greatest  hindrances  to 
virtue.  Indeed,  it  may  with  truth  be  said  that  the  de- 
vices of  modern  cookery  are  most  powerful  allies  of 
unchastity  and  licentiousness.  This  subject  is  particu- 
larly deserving  of  careful,  candid,  and  studious  atten- 
tion, and  only  needs  such  investigation  to  demonstrate 
its  soundness. 

Exercise.— 'Next  to  diet  as  an  aid  to  continence, 
perhaps  of  equal  importance  with  it,  is  exercise,  both 
physical  and  mental.  It  is  a  trite  proverb,  the  truth 
of  which  every  one  acknowledges,  that  ^' Satan  finds 
some  mischief  still  for  idle  hands  to  do,"  and  it  is 
equally  true  that  he  always  has  an  evil  thought  in 
readiness  to  instill  into  an  unoccupied  mind.  A  person 
who  desires  to  be  pure  and  continent  in  body  and  mind 
must  flee  idleness  as  he  would  the  devil  himself ;  for  the 
latter  is  always  ready  to  improve  upon  the  advantages 
afforded  by  an  idle  moment,  an  hour  given  to  reverie. 


204  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

We  have  the  strongest  testimony  from  the  most 
eminent  physicians  in  regard  to  the  efficacy  of  exer- 
cise in  overcoming  abnormal  sexual  desires.  Mr. 
Acton  relates  the  following  statement  made  to  him  by 
a  gentleman  who  has  become  distinguished  in  his  pro- 
fession : 

''  'You  may  be  surprised,  Mr.  Acton,'  said  he,  'by 
the  statement  I  am  about  to  make  to  you,  that  before 
my  marriage  I  lived  a  perfectly  continent  life.  During 
my  university  career,  my  passions  were  very  strong, 
sometimes  almost  uncontrollable,  but  I  have  the  satis- 
faction of  thinking  I  mastered  them;  it  was,  however, 
by  great  efforts ;  I  obliged  myself  to  take  violent  phys- 
ical exertion.  I  was  the  best  oar  of  my  year,  and 
when  I  felt  particularly  strong  sexual  desire,  I  sallied 
out  to  take  my  exercise.  I  was  victorious  always, 
and  I  never  committed  fornication.  You  see  in  what 
vigorous  health  I  am;  it  was  exercise  alone  that 
saved  me.'  " 

Says  Carpenter,  on  the  same  subject,  in  a  text-book 
for  medical  students,  ''Try  the  effect  of  close  mental 
application  to  some  of  those  ennobling  pursuits  to 
which  your  profession  introduces  you,  in  combination 
with  vigorous  bodily  exercise,  before  you  assert  that 
the  appetite  is  unrestrainable,  and  act  upon  that  asser- 
tion." 

Walking,  riding,  rowing,  and  gymnastics  are  among 
the  best  modes  of  physical  exercise  for  sedentary  per- 
sons; but  there  is  no  better  form  of  exercise  than  out- 
of-door  work.  The  cultivation  of  small  fruits,  flow- 
ers, and  other  occupations  of  like  character,  really 
excel  all  other  modes  of  physical  exercise  for  one  who 
can  engage  in  them  with  real  pleasure.  Even  though 
distasteful  at  first,  they  may  become  very  attractive 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  205 


and  interesting  if  there  is  an  honest,  persevering  desire 
to  make  them  so. 

The  advantages  of  exercises  of  this  kind  are  evi- 
dent. (1)  They  are  useful  as  well  as  healthful;  while 
they  call  into  action  a  very  large  number  of  muscles 
by  the  varied  movements  required,  the  expenditure  of 
vital  force  is  remunerated  by  the  actual  value  of  the 
products  of  the  labor;  so  that  no  force  is  wasted.  (2) 
The  tillage  of  the  soil  and  the  dressing  of  vines  and 
plants  bring  one  in  constant  contact  with  nature  in  a 
manner  that  is  elevating  and  refining,  or  at  least  af- 
fords the  most  favorable  opportunities  for  the  culti- 
vation of  nobility  and  purity  of  mind  and  elevated 
principles. 

Exercise  carried  to  such  excess  as  to  produce  ex- 
haustion is  always  injurious.  The  same  is  true  of 
mental  labor  as  of  physical  exercise.  Plenty  of  sleep, 
and  regular  habits  of  retiring  and  rising,  are  impor- 
tant. Dozing  is  bad  at  any  time;  for  it  is  a  condition 
in  which  the  will  is  nearly  dormant,  though  conscious- 
ness still  lingers,  and  the  imagination  is  allowed  to  run 
wild,  and  often  enough  it  will  run  where  it  ought  not. 
Late  study,  or  late  hours  spent  in  any  manner,  is  a 
means  of  producing  general  nervous  irritability,  and 
sexual  excitement  through  reflex  influence. 

The  author  has  made  these  suggestions  to  a  large 
number  of  young  men  who  were  suffering  from  the 
results  of  sexual  excesses,  and  whose  lives  had  been 
made  wretched  by  the  claraorings  of  artificially  stimu- 
lated passions,  and  has  frequently  witnessed  the  best 
results.  Not  a  little  earnestness  and  moral  courage 
were  required  on  the  part  of  the  patient,  however,  to 
secure  a  rigid  carrying  out  of  the  principles  here  laid 
down.    The  fascination  of  a  passion  long  indulged  is 

13 


206  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

likely  to  gain  the  mastery  over  any  man  who  is  not 
thoroughly  in  earnest  to  secure  a  physical  as  well  as 
a  mental  and  moral  reform.  But  one  who  will  engage 
earnestly  and  persistently  in  the  effort  will  find  him- 
self uniformly  successful  in  conquering  the  clamorings 
of  a  depraved  instinct,  and  each  effort  will  give  him 
new  courage,  and  add  to  his  ability  to  win  future  vic- 
tories. 

Bathing.— A  daily  bath  with  cool  or  tepid  water, 
followed  by  vigorous  rubbing  of  the  skin  with  a  coarse 
towel  and  then  with  the  dry  hand,  is  a  most  valuable 
aid.  The  hour  of  first  rising  is  generally  the  most  con- 
venient time.  How  to  take  different  kinds  of  baths  is 
explained  in  other  works  devoted  to  the  subject.*  Gen- 
eral and  local  cleanliness  are  indispensable  to  general 
and  local  health. 

Religion.— After  availing  himself  of  all  other  aids 
to  continence,  if  he  wishes  to  maintain  purity  of  mind 
as  well  as  physical  chastity,— and  one  cannot  exist  long 
without  the  other,— the  individual  must  seek  that  most 
powerful  and  helpful  of  all  aids,  Divine  grace. 

The  struggling  soul,  beset  with  evil  thoughts,  will 
find  in  prayer  a  salvation  which  all  his  force  of  will, 
and  dieting,  and  exercising  will  not,  alone,  insure  him. 
Yet  prayer  alone  will  not  avail;  faith  and  works  must 
always  be  associated.  All  that  one  can  do  to  work  out 
his  own  salvation,  he  must  do ;  then  he  can  safely  trust 
in  God  to  do  the  rest,  even  though  the  struggle  seems 
almost  a  useless  one;  for  when  the  soul  has  been  long 
in  bondage  to  concupiscence,  the  mind  a  hold  of  foul 
and  lustful  thoughts,  a  panorama  of  unchaste  imagery, 
these  hateful  phantoms  will  even  intrude  themselves 
upon  the  sanctity  of  prayer,  and  make  their  victim 
mentally  unchaste  upon  his  knees.  But  Christ  can  save 

*  See  "  Rational  Hydrotherapy, "  "  Home  Book  of  Modern  Medi- 
cine," and  other  works  by  the  author. 


SEXUAL    HYGIENE  207 


even  such ;  and  these  degraded  minds  may  yet  be  pure 
if,  with  the  psalmist,  they  continue  to  cry  with  a  true 
purpose  and  unwavering  trust,  '' Create  in  me  a  clean 
heart,  0  God,  and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me." 
"Purge  me  with  hyssop,  and  I  shall  be  clean;  wash 
me  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow." 

At  the  first  suggestion  of  an  evil  thought,  send  up 
a  mental  prayer  to  Him  whose  ear  is  always  open. 
Prayer  and  impurity  are  as  incompatible  as  oil  and 
water.  The  pure  thoughts  that  sincere  prayer  will 
bring,  displace  the  evil  promptings  of  excited  passion. 
But  the  desire  for  aid  must  be  sincere.  Prayer  will 
be  of  no  avail  while  the  mind  is  half  consenting  to  the 
evil  thought.  The  evil  must  be  loathed,  spurned,  de- 
tested. 

"He  looketh  upon  men,  and  if  any  say,  I  have 
sinned  and  perverted  that  which  was  right,  and  it 
profited  me  not;  He  will  deliver  his  soul  from  going 
into  the  pit,  and  his  life  shall  see  the  light."  Job 
33:27,  28. 

It  would  seem  almost  unnecessary  to  suggest  the 
impropriety  of  resorting  to  prayer  alone  when  sexual 
excitability  has  arisen  from  a  culjDable  neglect  to  re- 
move the  physical  condition  of  local  excitement  by  the 
means  already  mentioned.  Such  physical  causes  must 
be  well  looked  after,  or  every  attempt  to  reform  will 
be  fruitless.  God  requires  of  every  individual  to  do 
for  himself  all  that  he  is  capable  of  doing;  to  employ 
every  available  means  for  alleviating  his  sufferings. 


UNCHASTITY 


T 


^'^  I  ^HOU  Shalt  not  commit  adultery."  ''Whoso- 
ever looketh  on  a  woman  to  lust  after  her 
hath  committed  adultery  with  her  already  in 
his  heart." 

In  these  two  scriptures,  we  have  a  complete  defini- 
tion of  uncliastity.  The  seventh  commandment,  with 
the  Saviour's  commentary  upon  it,  places  clearly  be- 
fore us  the  fact  that  chastity  requires  purity  of  thought 
as  well  as  of  outward  acts.  Impure  thoughts  and 
unchaste- acts  are  alike  violations  of  the  seventh  com- 
mandment. As  we  shall  see,  also,  unchastity  of  the 
mind  is  a  violation  of  nature's  law  as  well  as  of  moral 
law,  and  is  visited  with  physical  punishment  com- 
mensurate to  the  transgression. 

Mental  Unchastity.— It  is  vain  for  a  man  to  sup- 
pose himself  chaste  who  allows  his  imagination  to  run 
riot  amid  scenes  of  amorous  associations.  The  man 
whose  lips  delight  in  tales  of  licentiousness,  whose  eyes 
feast  upon  obscene  pictures,  who  is  ever  ready  to  per- 
vert the  meaning  of  a  harmless  word  or  act  into  un- 
cleanness,  who  finds  delight  in  reading  vivid  portrayals 
of  acts  of  lewdness,— such  a  one  is  not  a  virtuous  man. 
Though  he  may  never  have  committed  an  overt  act  of 
unchastity,  if  he  cannot  pass  a  handsome  female  in 
the  street  without,  in  imagination,  approaching  the 
secrets  of  her  person,  he  is  but  one  grade  above  the 
open  libertine,  and  is  as  truly  unchaste  as  the  veriest 
debauchee. 

208 


UNCHASTITY  209 

Man  may  not  see  these  mental  adulteries,  he  may 
not  perceive  these  filthy  imaginings;  but  One  sees  and 
notes  them.  They  leave  their  hideous  scars  upon  the 
soul.  They  soil  and  mar  the  mind;  and  as  the  record 
of  each  day  of  life  is  photographed  upon  the  books 
of  heaven,  they  each  appear  in  bold  relief,  in  all  their 
innate  hideousness. 

One  turns  with  sadness  from  the  thought  that  hu- 
man ''forms  divine"  have  sunk  so  low.  The  standard 
of  virtue  is  trailing  in  the  dust.  Men  laugh  at  vice, 
and  sneer  at  purity.  The  bawdy  laugh,  the  ribald  jest, 
the  sensual  glance,  the  obscene  song,  the  filthy  tale, 
salute  the  eyes  and  ears  at  every  street  corner,  in  the 
horse-car,  on  the  railroad  train,  in  the  bar-room,  the 
lecture  hall,  the  workshop. 

Foul  thoughts,  once  allowed  to  enter  the  mind,  stick 
like  the  leprosy.  They  corrode,  contaminate,  and  infect 
like  the  pestilence;  naught  but  Almighty  power  can 
deliver  from  the  bondage  of  concupiscence  a  soul  once 
infected  by  this  foul  blight,  this  mortal  contagion. 

Mental  Uncleanness.— It  is  a  wide-spread  and 
deadly  error  that  only  outward  acts  are  harmful;  that 
only  physical  transgression  of  the  laws  of  chastity 
will  produce  disease.  We  have  seen  all  the  effects  of 
physical  abuse  resulting  from  mental  sin  alone. 

''I  have  traced  serious  affections  and  very  great 
suffering  to  this  cause.  The  cases  may  occur  at  any 
period  of  life.  We  meet  with  them  frequently  among 
such  as  are  usually  called,  or  think  themselves,  conti- 
nent young  men.  There  are  large  classes  of  persons 
who  seem  to  think  that  they  may,  without  moral  guilt, 
excite  their  own  feelings  or  those  of  others  by  loose  or 
libidinous  conversation  in  society,  provided  such  im- 
pure thoughts  or  acts  are  not  followed  by  masturba- 


210  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

tion  or  fornication.  I  have  almost  daily  to  tell  such 
persons  that  physically,  and  in  a  sanitary  point  of 
view,  they  are  ruining  their  constitutions.  There  are 
young  men  who  almost  pass  their  lives  in  making  carnal 
acquaintances  in  the  street,  but  stop  just  short  of  se- 
ducing girls ;  there  are  others  who  haunt  the  lower  class 
of  places  of  public  amusement  for  the  purpose  of  sex- 
ual excitement,  and  live,  in  fact,  a  thoroughly  immoral 
life  in  all  respects,  except  actually  going  home  with 
prostitutes.  Wlien  these  men  come  to  me,  laboring 
under  the  various  forms  of  impotence,  they  are  sur- 
prised at  my  suggesting  to  them  the  possibility  that 
the  impairment  of  their  powers  is  dependent  upon  these 
previous  vicious  habits."  * 

"Those  lascivious  day-dreams  and  amorous  rever- 
ies, in  which  young  people,  and  especially  the  idle  and 
the  voluptuous  and  the  sedentary  and  th6  nervous,  are 
exceedingly  apt  to  indulge,  are  often  the  source  of 
general  debility  and  effeminacy,  disordered  functions, 
premature  disease,  and  even  premature  death,  without 
the  actual  exercise  of  the  genital  organs !  Indeed,  this 
unchastity  of  thought,  this  adultery  of  the  mind,  is  the 
beginning  of  immeasurable  evil  to  the  human  family. ' '  f 

To  multitudes  of  men  and  women  amativeness,  or 
sexual  love,  means  lust.  The  word  love  has  been  low- 
ered and  debased  until  it  might  almost  be  considered 
practically  synonymous  with  sensuality.  The  first  step 
toward  reform  must  be  a  recognition  of  a  higher  and 
purer  relation  than  that  which  centers  every  thought 
upon  the  gratification  of  the  animal  in  human  nature. 
If  one  may  judge  from  the  facts  which  now  and  then 
come  to  the  surface,  it  would  appear  that  the  opportu- 
nity for  sensual  gratification  has  come  to  be,  in  the 
world  at  large,  the  chief  attraction  between  the  sexes. 

*  Acton,  t  Grahaia*^ 


UNCHASTITY  211 


Filthy  Dreamers.— This  perversion  of  a  natural 
instinct,  and  those  sndden  lapses  from  virtue  which 
startle  a  small  portion  of  the  community,  and  afford 
a  filthy  kind  of  pleasure  to  the  other  part,  are  but  the 
outgrowths  of  mental  unchastity.  ' '  Filthy  dreamers, ' ' 
before  they  are  aware,  become  filthy  in  action.  The 
thoughts  mold  the  brain,  as  certainly  as  the  brain  molds 
the  thoughts.  Rapidly  down  the  current  of  sensual- 
ity is  swept  the  individual  who  yields  his  imagination 
to  the  contemplation  of  lascivious  themes.  Before  he 
knows  his  danger,  he  finds  himself  deep  in  the  mire 
of  concupiscence.  He  may  preserve  a  fair  exterior; 
but  the  deception  cannot  cleanse  the  slime  from  his 
putrid  soul.  How  many  a  church  member  carries  un- 
der a  garb  of  piety  a  soul  filled  with  abominations,  no 
human  scrutiny  can  tell.  How  many  pulpits  are  filled 
by  '^whited  sepulchers,"  only  the  Judgment  will  dis- 
close. 

Unchaste  Conversation.— ''Out  of  the  abundance 
of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh."  ''Every  idle  word 
that  men  shall  speak,  they  shall  give  account  thereof 
in  the  day  of  Judgment."  "By  thy  words  thou  shalt 
be  condemned."  Matt.  12:34,  36,  37.  In  these  three 
brief  sentences,  Christ  presents  the  whole  moral  aspect 
of  the  subject  of  this  paragraph.  To  any  one  who 
will  ponder  well  His  weighty  words,  no  further  remark 
is  necessary.  Let  filthy  talkers  but  consider  for  a  mo- 
ment what  a  multitude  of  "idle,"  unclean  words  are 
waiting  for  account  in  the  final  day ;  and  then  let  them 
consider  what  a  load  of  condemnation  must  roll  upon 
their  guilty  souls  when  strict  justice  is  meted  out  to 
every  one  before  the  bar  of  Omnipotence,  and  in  the 
face  of  all  the  world— of  all  the  universe. 

The  common  habit  among  boys  and  young  men  o^ 


212  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

relating  filthy  stories,  indulging  in  foul  jokes,  making 
indecent  allusions,  is  a  most  abominable  sin.  Such 
habits  crush  out  pure  thoughts ;  they  annihilate  respect 
for  virtue ;  they  make  the  mind  a  quagmire  of  obscen- 
ity; they  lead  to  overt  acts  of  lewdness. 

But  boys  and  youth  are  not  alone  in  this.  More 
often  than  otherwise,  they  learn  from  older  ones  the 
phraseology  of  vice.  And  if  the  sin  is  loathsome  in 
such  youthful  transgressors,  what  detestable  enormity 
must  characterize  it  in  the  old! 

Foul  Gossip.— And  women,  too,  are  not  without 
their  share  in  this  accursed  thing,  this  ghost  of  vice, 
which  haunts  the  sewing-circle  and  the  parlor  as  well 
as  the  club-room. 

Masculine  purity  loves  to  regard  woman  as  chaste 
in  mind  as  well  as  in  body,  to  surround  her  with  con- 
ceptions of  purity  and  impregnable  virtue ;  but  the  con- 
clusion is  irresistible  that  those  who  can  gloat  over 
others'  lapses  from  virtue,  and  find  delight  in  such 
questionable  entertainments  as  the  most  recent  case  of 
seduction,  or  the  newest  scandal,  have  need  to  purify 
their  hearts  and  re-enforce  their  waning  chastity. 
Nevertheless,  a  writer  says,  and  perhaps  truly,  that 
"the  women  comprise  about  all  the  real  virtue  there  is 
in  the  world."  Certainly,  if  women  were  one-half  as 
impure  as  the  masculine  portion  of  humanity,  the  world 
would  be  vastly  worse  than  it  is. 

Causes  of  TJnchastity.—  Early  travelers  among 
the  North  American  Indians  were  struck  with  the  al- 
most entire  absence  of  that  abandonment  to  vice  which 
might  be  expected  in  a  race  uninfluenced  by  the  moral 
restraints  of  Christianity.  Wlien  first  discovered  in 
their  native  wilds,  they  were  free  from  both  the  vices 
and  the  consequent  diseases  of  civilization.    This  fact 


UNCHASTITY  215 

points  unmistakably  to  the  conclusion  that  there  must 
be  something  in  the  refinements  and  perversions  of 
civilized  life  which  is  unfavorable  to  chastity,  not  with- 
standing all  the  restraints  which  religion  and  the  con- 
ventionalisms of  society  impose.  Can  we  find  such  in- 
fluences?—Yes;  they  abound  on  every  hand,  and  leave 
their  blight  in  most  unwelcome  places,  oft  unsuspected, 
even,  till  the  work  of  ruin  is  complete. 

Libidinous  Blood.— In  no  other  direction  are  the 
effects  of  heredity  to  be  more  distinctly  traced  than  in 
the  transmission  of  sensual  propensities.  The  children 
of  libertines  are  likely  to  be  rakes  and  prostitutes. 
History  affords  numerous  examples  in  illustration  of 
this  fact.  The  daughter  of  Augustus  was  as  unchaste 
as  her  father,  and  her  daughter  was  as  immoral  as 
herself.  The  sons  of  David  showed  evident  traces  of 
their  father's  weakness.  Witness  the  incest  of  Amnon, 
and  the  voluptuousness  of  Solomon,  who  had  seven 
hundred  wives  and  three  hundred  concubines.  Solo- 
mon's son  was  likewise  a  noted  polygamist,  of  whom 
the  record  says,  *'He  desired  many  wives."  His  son's 
son  manifested  the  same  propensity  in  taking  as  many 
wives  as  the  debilitated  state  of  his  kingdom  enabled 
him  to  support.  But  perhaps  we  may  be  allowed  to 
trace  the  origin  of  this  libidinous  propensity  stiir 
farther  back.  A  glance  at  the  genealogy  of  David  will 
show  that  he  was  descended  from  Judah  through 
Pharez,  who  was  the  child  of  an  incestuous  union  be- 
tween Judah  and  his  daughter-in-law. 

Is  it  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  the  abnormal 
passion  which  led  David  to  commit  the  most  heinous 
sin  of  his  life  in  his  adultery  with  Bath-sheba,  and 
subsequently  procuring  the  death  of  her  husband,  was 
really  a  hereditary  propensity  which  had  come  down 


216  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

to  him  through  his  ancestors,  and  which,  under  more 
favorable  circumstances,  was  more  fully  developed  in 
his  sons'?  The  trait  may  have  been  kept  dormant  by 
the  active  and  simple  habits  of  his  early  years,  but 
asserted  itself  in  full  force  under  the  fostering  influ- 
ence of  royal  idleness  and  luxury.  In  accordance  with 
the  known  laws  of  heredity,  such  a  tendency  would  be 
the  legitimate  result  of  such  a  combination  of  circum- 
stances. 

Early  Causes.— The  frequent  custom  of  allowing 
children  of  the  opposite  sex  to  sleep  together,  even 
until  eight  or  ten  years  of  age,  or  longer,  is  a  danger- 
ous one.  We  have  known  of  instances  in  which 
little  boys  of  seven  or  eight  have  been  allowed  to 
sleejD  with  girls  of  fourteen  or  sixteen,  and  in  some 
cases  most  shameful  lessons  were  taught,  and  by 
persons  who  would  not  be  suspected  of  such  im- 
propriety. 

The  sexes  should  be  carefully  separated  from  each 
other,  at  least  as  early  as  three  or  four  years  of  age, 
under  all  circumstances  which  could  afford  opportunity 
for  observing  the  physical  differences  of  the  sexes,  or 
in  any  way  serve  to  excite  those  passions  which  at  this 
tender  age  should  be  wholly  dormant. 

Diet  vs.  Chastity.— From  earliest  infancy  to  im- 
potent old  age,  under  the  perverting  influence  of  civili- 
zation, there  is  a  constant  antagonism  between  diet  and 
purity.  When  old  enough  to  take  food  in  the  ordinary 
way,  the  infant's  tender  organs  of  digestion  are  plied 
with  highly  seasoned  viands,  stimulating  sauces,  ani- 
mal food,  sweetmeats,  and  dainty  tidbits  in  endless 
variety.  Soon  tea  and  coffee  are  added  to  the  list. 
Salt,  pepper,  ginger,  mustard,  condiments  of  every 
sort,  deteriorate  his  dailv  food. 


TJNCHASTITY  217 

Exciting  stimulants  and  condiments  Tveaken  and 
irritate  his  nerves,  and  derange  the  circulation.  Thus, 
indirectly,  they  affect  the  sexual  system,  which  suf- 
fers through  sjTTipathy  with  the  other  organs.  But  a 
more  direct  injury  is  done.  Flesh,  condiments,  eggs, 
tea,  coffee,  chocolate,  and  all  stimulants  have  a  po\t^er- 
ful  influence  directly  upon  the  reproductive  organs. 
They  increase  the  local  supply  of  blood;  and  through 
nervous  sympathy  with  the  brain,  the  passions  are 
aroused. 

Overeating,  eating  between  meals,  hasty  eating, 
eating  indigestible  articles  of  food,  ices,  late  suppers, 
etc.,  react  upon  the  sexual  organs  with  the  utmost 
certainty.  Any  disturbance  of  the  digestive  function 
deteriorates  the  quality  of  the  blood.  Poor  blood,  filled 
with  crude,  poorly  digested  food,  is  irritating  to  the 
nervous  system,  and  especially  to  those  extremely  deli- 
cate nerves  which  govern  the  reproductive  function. 
Irritation  provokes  congestion ;  congestion  excites  sex- 
ual desires;  excited  passions  increase  the  local  dis- 
turbance; and  thus  each  reacts  upon  the  other,  ever 
increasing  the  injury  and  the  liability  to  future  damage. 

"V^Hien  children  are  raised  upon  such  articles,  or 
upon  food  with  which  they  are  thoroughly  mingled, 
what  wonder  that  they  occasionally  "turn  out  bad"! 
How  many  mothers,  while  teaching  their  children  the 
principles  of  virtue  in  the  nursery,  unwittingly  stimu- 
late their  passions  at  the  dinner  table  until  vice  becomes 
almost  a  physical  necessity! 

Thus  these  exciting  causes  continue  their  insidious 
work  through  youth  and  more  mature  years.  Right 
under  the  eyes  of  fathers  and  mothers  they  work  the 
ruin  of  their  children,  exciting  such  storms  of  passion 
as  are  absolutely  uncontrollable. 


218  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Nothing  tends  so  powerfully  to  keep  the  passions  in 
abeyance  as  a  simple  diet,  free  from  condiments,  espe- 
cially when  coupled  with  a  generous  amount  of  exer- 
cise. 

Tobacco  and  Vice.— Few  are  aware  of  the  influ- 
ence, upon  morals  exerted  by  that  filthy  habit,  tobacco- 
using.  When  acquired  early,  it  excites  the  undevel- 
oped organs,  arouses  the  passions  and  in  a  few  years 
converts  the  once  chaste  and  pure  youth  into  a  veri- 
table volcano  of  lust,  belching  out  from  its  inner  fires 
of  passion,  torrents  of  obscenity  and  the  sulphurous 
fumes  of  lasciviousness.  If  long  continued,  the  final 
effect  of  tobacco  is  emasculation;  but  this  is  only  the 
necessary  consequence  of  previous  super-excitation. 
The  lecherous  day-dreams  in  which  many  smokers  in- 
dulge are  a  species  of  fornication  for  which  even  a  brute 
ought  to  blush,  if  such  a  crime  were  possible  for  a 
brute.  The  mental  libertine  does  not  confine  himself 
to  bagnios  and  women  of  the  town.  In  the  foulness 
of  his  imagination,  he  invades  the  sanctity  of  virtue 
wherever  his  erotic  fancy  leads  him. 

When  a  boy  places  the  first  cigar  or  quid  of  tobacco 
to  his  lips,  he  takes— if  he  has  not  previously  done  so— 
the  first  step  in  the  road  to  infamy ;  and  if  he  adds  wine 
or  beer,  he  takes  a  short  cut  to  the  degradation  of  his 
manhood  by  the  loss  of  virtue. 

We  are  aware  that  we  have  made  a  grave  charge 
against  tobacco,  and  we  have  not  hesitated  to  state  the 
naked  truth ;  yet  we  do  not  think  we  have  exaggerated, 
in  the  least,  the  pernicious  influence  of  this  foul  drug. 
As  much,  or  nearly  as  much,  might  be  said  against  the 
use  of  liquor,  on  the  same  grounds. 

Obscene  Books.— Another  potent  enemy  of  virtue  is 
the  obscene  literature  which  has  flooded  the  land  fof 


UNCHASTITY  219 

many  years.  Circulated  by  secret  agencies,  these  books 
have  found  their  way  into  the  most  secluded  districts. 
Nearly  every  large  school  contains  one  of  these  emis- 
saries of  evil  men  and  their  satanic  master.  Some  idea 
of  the  enormity  and  extent  of  this  evil  may  be  gained 
from  the  following  quotations  from  a  published  letter 
of  Mr,  Anthony  Comstock,  who  has  been  for  some  time 
employed  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
in  suppressing  the  traffic  by  arresting  the  publishers 
and  destroying  their  goods: 

''I  have  succeeded  in  unearthing  this  hydra-headed 
monster  in  part,  as  you  will  see  by  the  following  state- 
ment, which,  in  many  respects,  might  be  truthfully  in- 
creased in  quantity.  These  I  have  seized  and  de- 
stroyed : 

''Obscene  photographs,  stereoscopic,  and  other  pic- 
tures, more  than  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  thousand ; 
obscene  books  and  pamphlets,  more  than  five  tons; 
obscene  letter-press  in  sheets,  more  than  two  tons; 
sheets  of  impure  songs,  catalogues,  handbills,  etc.,  more 
than  twenty-one  thousand;  obscene  microscopic  watch 
and  knife  charms  and  finger  rings,  more  than  five  thou- 
sand ;  obscene  negative  plates  for  printing  photographs 
and  stereoscopic  views,  about  six  hundred  and  twenty- 
five;  obscene  engraved  steel  and  copper  plates,  three 
hundred  and  fifty;  obscene  lithographic  stones  de- 
stroyed, twenty;  obscene  wood-cut  engravings,  more 
than  five  hundred;  stereotype  plates  for  printing  ob- 
scene books,  more  than  five  tons;  obscene  transparent 
playing-cards,  nearly  six  thousand;  obscene  and  im- 
moral rubber  articles,  over  thirty  thousand ;  lead  molds 
for  manufacturing  rubber  goods,  twelve  sets,  or  more 
than  seven  hundred  pounds;  newspapers  seized,  about 
four  thousand  six  hundred;  letters  from  all  parts  of 


220  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

the  country  ordering  these  goods,  about  fifteen  thou- 
sand; names  of  dealers  in  account-books  seized,  about 
six  thousand;  lists  of  names  in  the  hands  of  dealers, 
that  are  sold  as  merchandise  to  forward  circulars  or 
catalogues  to,  independent  of  letters  and  account-books 
seized,  more  than  seven  thousand. 

''These  abominations  are  disseminated  by  these 
men  by  first  obtaining  the  names  and  addresses  of 
scholars  and  students  in  our  schools  and  colleges,  and 
then  forwarding  circulars.  They  secure  thousands  of 
names  in  this  way,  either  by  sending  for  catalogues 
of  schools,  seminaries,  and  colleges,  under  a  pretense 
of  sending  a  child  to  school;  or  else  by  sending  out  a 
circular  purporting  to  be  getting  up  a  directory  of  all 
the  scholars  and  students  in  schools  and  colleges  in 
the  United  States;  or  of  taking  the  census  of  all  the 
unmarried  people,  and  offering  to  pay  five  cents  per 
name  for  lists  so  sent.  I  need  not  say  that  the  money 
is  seldom  or  never  sent,  but  I  do  say  that  these  names, 
together  with  those  that  come  in  reply  to  advertise- 
ments, are  sold  to  other  parties;  so  that  when  a  man 
desires  to  engage  in  this  nefarious  business,  he  has 
only  to  purchase  a  list  of  these  names,  and  then  your 
child,  be  it  son  or  daughter,  is  liable  to  have  thrust 
into  its  hands,  all  unknown  to  you,  one  of  these  devilish 
catalogues. 

''Since  the  destruction  of  the  stereotype  plates  of 
old  books,  secret  circulars  have  been  discovered  of  a 
notice  to  dealers  that  twelve  new  books  are  in  course 
of  preparation,  and  will  soon  be  ready  for  delivery." 

Says  Hon.  C.  L.  Merriam,  as  quoted  by  a  recent 
writer:  "We  find  that  the  dealers  in  obscene  literature 
have  organized  circulating  libraries,  which  are  under 
the  charge  of  the  most  vicious  boys  in  the  schools,  boys 


UNCHASTITY  221' 

chosen  and  paid  by  the  venders,  who  circulate  among 
the  students,  at  ten  cents  a  volume,  any  of  the  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  obscene  books  heretofore  published 
in  New  York  City." 

Largely  through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Comstock, 
laws  have  been  enacted  which  promise  to  do  much  to- 
ward checking  this  extensive  evil,  or,  at  least,  causing 
it  to  make  itself  less  prominent.  Our  newspapers  still 
abound  with  advertisements  of  various  so-called  med- 
ical works,  ''marriage  guide,"  etc.,  which  are  fruits 
of  the  same  "upas-tree"  that  Mr.  Comstock  has  labored 
so  faithfully  to  uproot. 

Sentimental  Literature.— It  is  a  painful  fact, 
however,  that  the  total  annihilation  of  every  foul  book 
which  the  law  can  reach  will  not  effect  the  cure  of  this 
evil ;  for  our  modern  literature  is  full  of  the  same  virus. 
It  is  necessarily  presented  in  less  grossly  revolting 
forms,  half  concealed  by  beautiful  imagery,  or  embel- 
lished by  wit ;  but  yet,  there  it  is,  and  no  law  can  reach 
it.  The  works  of  our  standard  authors  in  literature 
abound  in  lubricity.  Popular  novels  have  doubtless 
done  more  to  arouse  a  prurient  curiosity  in  the  young, 
and  to  excite  and  foster  passion  and  immorality,  than 
even  the  obscene  literature  for  the  suppression  of  which 
such  active  measures  have  recently  been  taken.  The 
more  exquisitely  painted  the  scenes  of  vice,  the  more 
dangerously  enticing.  Novel-reading  has  led  thousands 
to  lives  of  dissoluteness. 

City  and  school  libraries,  circulating  libraries,  and 
even  Sunday-school  libraries,  are  full  of  books  which, 
though  they  may  contain  good  moral  teaching,  contain, 
as  well,  an  element  as  incompatible  with  purity  of  mor- 
als as  is  light  with  midnight  darkness.  Writers  for 
children  and  youth  seem  to  think  a  tale  of  "courtship, 


222  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

love,  and  matrimony"  entirely  indispensable  as  a 
medium  for  conveying  tlieir  moral  instruction. 

"Religious  Novels."— Some  of  these  ''religious 
novels"  are  actually  more  pernicious  than  the  fictions 
of  well-known  novelists  who  make  no  pretense  to  hav- 
ing religious  instruction  a  particular  object  in  view. 
Sunday-school  libraries  are  not  often  wholly  composed 
of  this  class  of  works ;  but  any  one  who  takes  the  trou- 
ble to  examine  the  books  of  such  a  library  will  be  able 
to  select  the  most  pernicious  ones  by  the  external  ap- 
pearance. The  covers  will  be  well  worn,  and  the  edges 
begrimmed  with  dirt  from  such  handling.  Children 
soon  tire  of  the  shallow  sameness  which  characterizes 
the  "moral"  parts  of  most  of  these  books,  and  skim 
lightly  over  them,  selecting  and  devouring  with  eager- 
ness those  portions  which  relate  the  silly  narrative  of 
some  love  adventure.  This  kind  of  literature  arouses 
in  children  premature  fancies  and  queries,  and  fosters 
a  sentimentalism  which  too  often  occasions  most  un- 
happy results.  Through  their  influence,  young  girls 
are  often  led  to  begin  a  life  of  shame  long  before  their 
parents  are  aware  that  a  thought  of  evil  has  ever  en- 
tered their  minds. 

The  following  words  from  the  pen  of  a  forcible 
writer  *  present  this  matter  in  none  too  strong  a  light : 

''You  may  tear  your  coat  or  break  a  vase,  and  re- 
pair them  again;  but  the  point  where  the  rip  or  the 
fracture  took  place  will  always  be  evident.  It  takes  less 
than  an  hour  to  do  your  heart  a  damage  which  no  time 
can  entirely  repair.  Look  carefully  over  your  child's 
library ;  see  what  book  it  is  that  he  reads  after  he  has 
gone  to  bed,  with  the  gas  turned,  upon  the  pillow.  Do 
not  always  take  it  for  granted  that  a  book  is  good  be- 
cause it  is  a  Sunday-school  book.    As  far  as  possible, 

*  T.  De  Witt  Talmage. 


UNCHASTITY  223 


know  who  wrote  it,  who  illustrated  it,  who  published  it, 
who  sold  it. 

A  Modern  Plague.— ''It  seems  that  in  the  litera- 
ture of  the  day,  the  ten  plagues  of  Egypt  have  returned, 
and  the  frogs  and  lice  have  hopped  and  skipped  over 
our  parlor  tables. 

''Parents  are  delighted  to  have  their  children  read, 
but  they  should  be  sure  as  to  what  they  read.  You  do 
not  have  to  walk  a  day  or  two  in  an  infested  district  to 
get  the  cholera  or  typhoid  fever;  and  one  wave  of 
moral  unhealth  will  fever  and  blast  the  soul  forever. 
Perhaps,  knowing  not  what  you  did,  you  read  a  bad 
book.  Do  you  not  remember  it  altogether?— Yes;  and 
perhaps  you  will  never  get  over  it.  However  strong 
and  exalted  your  character,  never  read  a  bad  book. 
By  the  time  you  get  through  the  first  chapter,  you  will 
see  the  drift.  If  you  find  the  marks  of  the  hoofs  of  the 
devil  in  the  picture,  or  in  the  style,  or  in  the  plot,  away 
with  it. 

"But  there  is  more  danger,  I  think,  from  many  of 
the  family  papers,  published  once  a  week,  in  those 
stories  of  vice  and  shame,  full  of  infamous  suggestions, 
going  as  far  as  they  can  without  exposing  themselves 
to  the  clutch  of  the  law.  I  name  none  of  them ;  but  say 
that  on  some  fashionable  tables  there  lie  'family  news- 
papers' that  are  the  very  vomit  of  the  pit. 

"The  way  to  ruin  is  cheap.  It  costs  three  dollars 
to  go  to  Philadelphia;  six  dollars  to  Boston;  thirty- 
three  dollars  to  Savannah;  but,  by  the  purchase  of  a 
bad  paper  for  ten  cents,  you  may  get  a  through  ticket 
to  hell,  by  express,  with  few  stopping-places,  and  the 
final  halting,  like  the  tumbling  of  the  lightning  train 
down  the  draw-bridge  at  Norwalk— sudden,  terrific, 
deathful,  never  to  rise." 

14  .  .    . 


224  PLAIN   FACTS   FOB   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

Idleness.— This  evil  is  usually  combined  with  the 
preceding.  To  maintain  purity,  the  mind  must  be 
occupied.  If  left  without  occupation,  the  vacuity  is 
quickly  filled  with  unchaste  thoughts.  Nothing  can  be 
worse  for  a  child  than  to  be  reared  in  idleness.  His 
morals  will  be  certain  to  suffer.  Incessant  mental  occu- 
pation is  the  only  safeguard  against  unchastity.  Those 
worthless  fops  who  spend  their  lives  in  ''killing  time" 
by  lounging  about  bar-rooms,  loafing  on  street  corners 
or  strutting  up  and  down  the  boulevard,  are  anything 
but  chaste.  Those  equally  worthless  young  women  who 
waste  their  lives  on  sofas  or  in  easy  chairs,  occupied 
only  with  some  silly  novel,  or  idling  away  life's  pre- 
cious hours  in  reverie,— such  creatures  are  seldom  the 
models  of  purity  one  would  wish  to  think  them.  If 
born  with  a  natural  propensity  toward  sin,  such  a  life 
would  soon  engender  a  diseased,  impure  imagination, 
if  nothing  worse^ 

Dress  and  Sensuality.— There  are  two  ways  in 
which  fashionable  dress  leads  to  unchastity;  viz.,  (1) 
by  its  extravagance;  (2)  by  its  abuse  of  the  body. 

How  does  extravagance  lead  to  unchastity?— By 
creating  the  temptation  to  sin.  It  affects  not  those 
gorgeously  attired  ladies  who  ride  in  fine  carriages, 
and  live  in  brown-stone  fronts,  who  are  surrounded 
with  all  the  luxuries  that  wealth  can  purchase— fine 
apparel  is  no  temptation  to  such.  But  to  less  favored, 
though  not  less  worthy  ones,  these  magnificent  displays 
of  millinery  goods  and  fine  trappings  are  most  power- 
ful temptations.  The  poor  seamstress,  who  can  earn 
by  diligent  toil  hardly  enough  to  pay  her  board  bill, 
has  no  legitimate  way  by  which  to  deck  herself  with 
the  finery  she  admires.  Plainly  dressed  as  she  must 
be  if  she  remains  honest  and  retains  her  virtue,  she  is 


WATT  DISCOVERING  THE  POWER  OF  STEAM       225 -a 


BEETHOVEN  AT   THE  ORGAN 


226-b 


226-a 


CHASTE   APPAREL 


S20-b 


FASHION   AND  FOLLY 


UNCHASTITY  227 


scornfully  ignored  by  her  proud  sisters.  Everywhere 
she  finds  it  a  generally  recognized  fact  that  "dress 
makes  the  lady."  On  the  street,  no  one  steps  aside 
to  let  her  pass,  no  one  stoops  to  regain  for  her  the 
package  that  slips  from  her  weary  hands.  Does  she 
enter  a  crowded  car !  No  one  offers  her  a  seat,  though 
she  is  trembling  with  fatigue,  while  the  showily  dressed 
woman  who  follows  her  is  accommodated  at  once.  She 
marks  the  difference;  she  does  not  pause  to  count  the 
cost,  but  barters  away  her  self-respect  to  gain  the  re- 
spect, or  deference,  of  strangers. 

How  Young  Women  Fall.— It  has  been  authori- 
tatively stated  that  there  are,  in  our  large  cities,  hun- 
dreds of  young  women  who,  being  able  to  earn  barely 
enough  to  buy  food  and  fuel  and  pay  the  rent  of  a 
dismal  attic,  take  the  advice  offered  by  their  employ- 
ers, ' '  Get  some  gentleman  friend  to  dress  you  for  your 
company."  Others  spend  all  their  small  earnings  to 
keep  themselves  "respectably"  dressed,  and  share  the 
board  and  lodgings  of  some  young  roue  as  heartless  as 
incontinent.  Persons  unaccustomed  to  city  life,  and 
thousands  of  people  in  the  very  heart  of  our  great 
metropolis,  have  no  conception  of  the  frightful  preva- 
lence of  this  kind  of  prostitution.  Young  women  go  to 
our  large  cities  as  pure  as  snow.  They  find  no  lucra- 
tive employment.  Daily  contact  with  vice  obtunds  their 
first  abhorrence  of  it.  Gradually  it  becomes  familiar. 
A  fancied  life  of  ease  presents  allurements  to  a  hard- 
worked  sewing-girl.  Fine  clothes  and  comfortable 
lodgings  increase  the  temptation.  She  yields,  and  bar- 
ters her  body  for  a  home  without  the  trouble  of  a  mar- 
riage ceremony. 

Wealthy  women  could  do  more  to  cure  the  "social 
evil ' '  by  adopting  plain  attire  than  all  the  civil  author- 


228  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

ities  by  passing  license  laws  or  regulating  ordinances. 
Have  not  Christian  women  a  duty  here?  Some  years 
ugo,  a  few  ladies  made  a  slight  move  in  the  right 
direction,  as  is  indicated  in  the  following  paragraph; 
but  we  have  not  heard  that  their  example  has  been 
followed : 

^^The  lady  members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 

of  ,  have  agreed  that  they  will  dispense  with 

all  finery  on  Sunday,  wearing  no  jewels  but  consist- 
ency, and  hereafter  appear  at  church  in  plain  calico 
dresses," 

A  more  radical  reform  would  have  been  an  exten- 
sion of  the  salutary  measure  to  all  other  days  of  the 
week,  as  well  as  Sunday ;  though  we  see  no  reason  for 
restricting  the  material  of  clothing  to  calico,  which 
might,  indeed,  be  rather  insufficient  for  some  seasons 
of  the  year. 

Fashion  and  Vice.  —Let  us  glance  at  another  way 
in  which  dress  lends  its  influence  to  vice,  by  obstruct- 
ing the  normal  functions  of  the  body.  (1)  Fashion  re- 
quires a  woman  to  compress  her  waist  with  bands  or 
corsets.  In  consequence,  the  circulation  of  the  blood 
toward  the  heart  is  obstructed.  The  venous  blood  is 
crowded  back  into  the  delicate  organs  of  generation. 
Congestion  ensues,  and  with  it  through  reflex  action,  the 
unnatural  excitement  of  the  animal  propensities.  (2) 
The  manner  of  wearing  the  clothing,  suspending  several 
heavy  garments  from  the  hips,  increases  the  same  diffi- 
culty by  bringing  too  large  a  share  of  clothing  where  it 
is  least  needed,  thus  generating  unnatural  local  heat. 
(3) The  custom  of  clothing  the  feet  and  limbs  so  thinly 
that  they  are  exposed  to  constant  chilling,  by  still 
further  unbalancing  the  circulatiori  adds  another  ele- 
ment to  increase  the  local  mischiefs 


UNCHASTITY  229 

All  these  causes  combined,  operating  almost  con- 
stantly,— with  others  that  might  be  mentioned,— pro- 
duce permanent  local  congestion,  with  ovarian  and 
uterine  derangements.  The  latter  affections  have  long 
been  recognized  as  the  chief  pathological  condition  in 
hysteria,  and  especially  in  that  peculiar  form  of  disease 
known  as  nymphomania,  under  the  excitement  of 
which  a  young  woman,  naturally  chaste  and  modest, 
may  be  impelled  to  the  commission  of  the  most  wanton 
acts.  The  pernicious  influence  of  fashionable  dress 
in  occasioning  this  disorder  cannot  be  doubted. 

Reform  in  Dress  Needed.— The  remedy  for  these 
evils,  the  only  way  to  escape  them,  is  reformation.  The 
dress  must  be  so  adjusted  to  the  body  that  every  organ 
will  be  allowed  free  movement.  No  corset,  band,  belt, 
or  other  means  of  constriction,  should  im>oede  the  cir- 
culation. Garments  should  be  suspended  from  the 
shoulders  by  means  of  a  waist,  or  by  proper  suspend- 
ers. The  limbs  should  be  as  warmly  clad  as  any  other 
portion  of  the  body.  How  best  to  secure  these  require- 
ments of  health  may  be  learned  from  several  excellent 
works  on  dress  reform,  any  of  which  can  be  readily 
obtained  of  the  publishers  of  this  work  or  their  agents. 

Fashionable  Dissipation.— The  influence  of  so 
important  an  agent  for  evil  in  this  direction  as  fash- 
ionable dissipation  cannot  be  ignored.  By  fashionable 
dissipation  we  mean  that  class  of  excesses  in  the  indul- 
gence in  which  certain  classes,  usually  the  more  wealthy 
or  aristocratic,  pride  themselves.  Among  this  class  of 
persons  a  man  who  is  known  to  be  a  common  drunkard 
would  not  be  recognized ;  such  a  person  would  be  care- 
fully shunned;  yet  a  total  abstainer  would  be  avoided 
with  almost  equal  care,  and  would  be  regarded  as  a 
fanatic  or  an  extremist,  at  least.    AVith  this  class,  wine- 


230  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

drinking  is  considered  necessary  as  a  matter  of  pro- 
priety. Along  with  wine  are  taken  a  great  variety  of 
highly  seasoned  foods,  spices,  and  condiments  in  pro- 
fusion, with  rich  meats  and  all  sorts  of  delicacies,  rich 
desserts,  etc.,  which  can  hardly  be  considered  much 
less  harmful  than  stimulants  of  a  more  generally  rec- 
ognized character. 

These  indulgences  excite  that  part  of  the  system 
which  generally  needs  restraint  rather  than  stimula- 
tion. A  participant,  an  ex-governor,  recently  described 
to  us  a  grand  political  dinner  given  in  honor  of  a  noted 
American  citizen,  which  began  at  5  p.  m.  and  continued 
until  nearly  midnight,  continuous  courses  of  food, 
wines,  etc.,  being  served  for  nearly  six  hours.  Similar 
scenes  have  been  enacted  in  a  score  of  our  large  cities 
for  the  same  ostensible  purpose.  Knowing  that  public 
men  are  addicted  to  such  gormandizing  on  numerous 
occasions,  we  do  not  wonder  that  so  many  of  them  are 
men  of  loose  morals. 

The  Influence  of  Luxury.— The  tendency  of  lux- 
ury is  toward  demoralization.  Eome  never  became  dis- 
sipated and  corrupt  until  her  citizens  became  wealthy, 
and  adopted  luxurious  modes  of  living.  Nothing  is 
more  conducive  to  sound  morals  than  full  occupation 
of  the  mind  with  useful  labor.  Fashionable  idleness 
is  a  foe  to  virtue.  The  young  man  or  the  young  woman 
who  wastes  the  precious  hours  of  life  in  listless  dream- 
ing, or  in  that  sort  of  senseless  twaddle  which  forms 
the  bulk  of  the  conversation  in  some  circles,  is  in  very 
great  danger  of  demoralization.  Many  of  the  usages  and 
customs  of  fashionable  society  seem  to  open  the  door 
to  vice,  and  to  insidiously,  and  at  first  unconsciously, 
lead  the  young  and  inexperienced  away  from  the  paths 
of  purity  and  virtue.    There  is  good  evidence  that  the 


TJNCHASTITY  231 

amount  of  immorality  among  what  are  known  as  the 
higher  classes,  is  every  year  increasing.  Every  now 
and  then  a  scandal  in  high  life  comes  to  the  surface; 
but  the  great  mass  of  corruption  is  effectually  hidden 
from  the  general  public.  Open  profligacy  is  of  course 
frowned  upon  in  all  respectable  circles ;  and  yet  wealth 
and  accomplishments  will  cover  a  multitude  of  sins. 

This  freedom  allowed  to  the  vile  and  vicious  is  one 
of  the  worst  features  of  fashionable  society.  Such  per- 
sons carry  about  them  a  moral  atmosphere  more  deadly 
than  the  dreaded  upas-tree. 

Round  Dances.— Wliatever  apologies  may  be  of- 
fered for  other  forms  of  the  dance  as  a  means  of  exer- 
cise under  certain  restrictions,  employed  as  a  form  of 
calisthenics,  no  such  excuse  can  be  framed  in  defense 
of  ''round  dances,"  especially  of  the  waltz.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  associated  dissipation,  late  hours,  fashion- 
able dressing,  midnight  feasting,  exposures  through 
excessive  exertions,  improper  dress,  etc.,  it  can  be 
shown  most  clearly  that  dancing  has  a  direct  influence 
in  stimulating  the  passions,  and  provoking  unchaste 
desires,  which  too  often  lead  to  unchaste  acts,  and  are 
in  themselves  violations  of  the  requirements  of  strict 
morality,  and  productive  of  injury  to  both  mind  and 
body. 

Said  the  renowned  Petrarch,  "The  dance  is  the 
spur  of  lust,— a  circle  of  which  the  devil  himself  is 
the  center.  Many  women  that  use  it  have  come  dis- 
honest home,  most  indifferent,  none  better." 

A  Woman's  View  of  Dancing.— We  quote  the 
following  from  a  letter  written  to  a  friend  by  a  woman 
of  great  ability  and  strength  of  mind,  of  unblemished 
character  and  national  reputation,  and  in  response  to 
his  request  for  her  opinion  of  the  dance.     The  state- 


232  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

ments  made  in  this  remarkable  letter  are  so  clear  and 
convincing  that  every  j)arent  ought  to  read  it: 

''I  will  venture  to  lay  bare  a  young  girl's  heart  and 
mind  by  giving  my  own  experience  in  the  days  when 
I  waltzed. 

''In  those  days  I  cared  little  for  polka  or  Varsovi- 
enne,  and  still  less  for  the  old-fashioned  'Money  Musk' 
or  'Virginia  Reel,'  and  wondered  what  people  could 
find  to  admire  in  those  'slow  dances.'  But  in  the  soft 
floating  of  the  waltz  I  found  a  strange  pleasure,  rather 
difficult  to  intelligibly  describe.  The  mere  anticipa- 
tion fluttered  my  pulse,  and  when  my  partner  ap- 
proached to  claim  my  promised  hand  for  the  dance,  I 
felt  my  cheeks  glow  a  little  sometimes,  and  I  could  not 
look  him  in  the  eyes  with  the  same  frank  gayety  as 
heretofore. 

"I  am  speaking  openly  and  frankly,  and  when  I 
say  that  I  did  not  understand  what  I  felt,  or  what 
were  the  real  and  greatest  pleasures  I  derived  from 
this  so-called  dancing,  I  expect  to  be  believed.  But  if 
my  cheeks  grew  red  with  uncomprehended  pleasure 
then,  they  grow  pale  with  shame  to-day  when  I  think 
of  it  all.  It  was  the  physical  emotions  engendered  by 
the  contact  of  strong  men  that  I  was  enamored  of,— , 
not  of  the  dance,  nor  even  of  the  men  themselves. 

"Girls  talk  to  each  other.  I  was  still  a  schoolgirl, 
although  mixing  so  much  with  the  world.  We  talked 
together.  We  read  romances  that  fed  our  romantic 
passions  on  seasoned  food,  and  none  but  ourselves  knew 
what  subjects  we  discussed.  Had  our  parents  heard 
us,  they  would  have  considered  us  on  the  high  road  to 
ruin. 

"Yet  we  had  been  taught  that  it  was  right  to  dance ; 
our  parents  did  it,  our  friends  did  it,  and  we  were  per- 


UNCHASTITY  233 

mitted.  I  will  say  also  that  all  the  girls  with  whom 
I  associated,  with  the  exception  of  one,  had  much  the 
same  experience  in  dancing. 

"Married  now,  with  home  and  children  around  me, 
I  can  at  least  thank  God  for  the  experience  which  will 
assuredly  be  the  means  of  preventing  my  little  daugh- 
ters from  indulging  in  any  such  dangerous  pleasure. 

"I  doubt  if  my  experience  will  be  of  much  serv- 
ice, but  it  is  the  candid  truth,  from  a  woman  who,  in 
the  cause  of  all  the  young  girls  who  may  be  contami- 
nated, desires  to  show  just  to  what  extent  a  young 
mind  may  be  defiled  by  the  injurious  effects  of  round 
dances.  I  have  not  hesitated  to  lay  bare  what  are  a 
young  girl's  most  secret  thoughts,  in  the  hope  that 
people  will  stop  and  consider,  at  least,  before  handing 
their  lilies  of  purity  over  to  the  arms  of  any  one  who 
may  choose  to  blow  the  frosty  breath  of  dishonor  on 
their  petals." 

Much  more  might  be  added  on  this  important  sub- 
ject, would  the  limits  of  this  work  allow ;  but  this  must 
suffice.  We  beg  the  reader  to  consider  carefully  and 
prayerfully  the  facts  presented  before  deciding  that 
dancing  is  as  harmless  as  many  persons  suppose. 

Physical  Causes  of  Unchastity.— Some  of  the 
physical  causes  of  impurity  in  women  have  been  pre- 
viously referred  to,  since  it  is  through  physical  inju- 
ries that  unhealthful  clothing  exerts  its  influence.  Too 
little  is  generally  known  of  the  intimate  connection  be- 
tween physical  and  mental  conditions.  Doubtless, 
many  vices  originate  in  physical  imperfections.  In- 
deed, when  the  full  bearing  of  physical  influences  upon 
the  mind  is  allowed,  it  is  difficult  to  avoid  pleading 
extenuating  circumstances  in  the  cases  of  the  greater 
share  of  transgressors  of  both  moral  and  civil  laws. 


234  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

This  principle  is  especially  applicable  to  sexual  rela- 
tions. 

In  males,  one  of  the  most  general  physical  causes 
of  sexual  excitement  is  constipation.  The  vesicula 
seminalis,  in  which  the  seminal  fluid  is  stored,  is  situ- 
ated, as  will  be  remembered,  at  the  base  of  the  bladder. 
It  thus  has  the  bladder  in  front  and  the  rectum  behind. 
In  constipation,  the  rectum  becomes  distended  with 
feces— etfete  matter  which  should  have  been  promptly 
evacuated,  instead  of  being  allowed  to  accumulate. 
This  hardened  mass  presses  upon  the  parts  most  inti- 
mately concerned  in  the  sexual  act,  causing  excessive 
local  excitement.  When  this  condition  is  chronic,  as 
in  habitual  constipation,  the  unnatural  excitement  often 
leads  to  most  serious  results.  One  of  these  is  the  pro- 
duction of  a  horrible  disease,  satyriasis,  the  nature  of 
which  has  been  previously  indicated. 

Constipation  in  females  has  the  same  tendency, 
though  the  dangers  are  not  quite  so  great.  The  irrita- 
tion is  sufficient,  however,  to  lead  to  excitement  of  the 
passions. 

Intestinal  worms  often  produce  the  same  result  in 
children. 

Local  uncleanliness  is  another  very  frequent  cause 
which  is  often  overlooked.  The  natural  local  secre- 
tions quickly  become  a  source  of  great  irritation  if  not 
removed  by  daily  washing.  Certain  anatomical  pecul- 
iarities sometimes  exist  in  the  male,  which  greatly 
aggravate  this  difficulty,  and  for  which  circumcision, 
or  an  equivalent  operation,  is  the  remedy. 

Irritation  of  the  bladder,  producing  incontinence  of 
urine,  is  another  enemy  to  chastity.  It  should  receive 
prompt  attention  and  treatment.  In  children,  this  irri- 
tability is  indicated  by  wetting  of  the  bed  at  night.    In 


TJNCHASTITY  235 

cases  of  this  kind,  allow  the  child  little  drink  in  the 
latter  portion  of  the  day.  See  that  the  bladder  is 
emptied  just  before  he  goes  to  bed.  Wake  him  once 
or  twice  during  the  night,  and  have  him  urinate.  Use 
all  possible  means  to  remove  the  cause  of  irritation  by 
giving  him  plenty  of  out-of-door  exercise  and  a  very 
simple,  though  nutritious,  diet.  Avoid  meat,  eggs,  and 
condiments. 

Leucorrliea  is  a  cause  as  well  as  a  result  of  unchas- 
tity  in  females.  The  discharge  produces  abnormal  ex- 
citement, and  attracts  the  attention  of  the  individual 
to  the  i^arts,  causing  relief  to  be  sought  by  rubbing, 
and  thus  still  further  excitement  is  provoked,  and  an 
evil  practice  begun. 

Modern  Modes  of  Life.— Aside  from  all  the  causes 
already  enumerated,  there  are  many  other  conditions 
and  circumstances,  the  result  of  modern  habits  of  liv- 
ing, that  tend  directly  toward  the  excitement  of  sensu- 
ality. Superheated  rooms,  sedentary  employments, 
the  development  of  the  mental  and  n,ervous  organiza- 
tions at  the  expense  of  the  muscular,  the  cramming  sys- 
tem in  schools,  too  long  confinement  of  school-children 
in  a  sitting  position,  the  allowance  of  too  great  free- 
dom between  the  sexes  in  the  young,  the  demoralizing 
influence  of  many  varieties  of  public  amusement,  balls, 
church  fairs,  and  other  like  influences  too  numerous  to 
mention,  all  tend  in  the  one  direction,  that  of  abnormal 
excitation  and  precocious  development  of  the  sexual 
functions. 

It  is  not  an  exaggeration  to  say  that  for  one  conform- 
ing to  modern  modes  of  living,  eating,  sleeping,  and 
drinking,  absolute  chastity  is  next  to  an  absolute  im- 
possibility. This  would  certainly  be  true  without  a 
special  interposition  of  Providence;  but  Providence 


236         PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

never  works  miracles  to  obviate  the  results  of  volun- 
tary sin. 

Nervous  Irritability,— One  of  the  results  of  the 
fast  life  led  by  the  majority  of  persons  in  civilized 
countries  is  the  production  of  what  has  been  denomi- 
nated the  neurotic  temperament,  a  condition  in  which 
the  nervous  system  is  unduly  active  and  excitable.  This 
condition  is  always  accompanied  by  a  deficiency  of 
nerve  tone.  This  means  that  the  nerve  centers  which 
control  the  various  functions  of  the  body  are  more  ex- 
citable and  less  under  control  of  the  will  and  other  domi- 
nating and  governing  centers  than  in  health.  The  con- 
sequence of  this  condition  is  a  tendency  to  irregularity 
in  the  activity  of  the  various  vital  functions,  especially 
an  exaggeration  of  the  activity  of  those  functions  which 
are  particularly  called  out  by  the  emotions  and  pro- 
pensities. This  depraved  condition  of  the  body  con- 
stitutes a  physical  bias  in  the  direction  of  vice  and 
crime  of  all  sorts.  All  the  violent  passions,  such  as 
irritability  of  temper  and  sensuality,  are  more  readily 
excited  to  activity,  and  when  in  action,  are  more  intense 
than  in  a  healthy  individual.  This  lowered  nerve  tone 
is  also  accompanied  by  a  lowered  mental  tone,  and  a 
corresponding  lowering  of  moral  tone ;  so  that  while  the 
propensities  are  unnaturally  strong,  the  will  by  which 
they  should  be  controlled  is  unusually  weak.  This 
state  of  things  renders  the  individual  an  easy  prey  to 
vice,  and  particularly  to  that  most  overmasting  of  all 
the  passions,  sensuality.  From  this  same  morbid  con- 
dition comes  a  growing  tendency  to  the  drink  habit, 
and  the  ready  acquirement  of  the  use  of  tobacco  and 
other  narcotics,  which  in  turn  steadily  increase  the 
morbid  condition  referred  to,  and  thus  accelerate  the 
tendency  in  the  direction  of  sensuality  and  vice. 


TJNCHASTITY  237 

This  tendency  among  civilized  people  is  to  be  com- 
bated by  having  greater  attention  given  to  health  cul- 
ture; to  the  training  of  the  muscles  by  thorough  and 
systematic  gymnastic  exercise;  to  the  connection  of 
manual-labor  and  manual-training  departments  with 
our  educational  institutions ;  and  to  the  encouragement 
of  agricultural  and  other  forms  of  muscular  employ- 
ment. The  mind  need  not  be  trained  less,  but  the  body 
more.  Indeed,  a  better  kind  of  mental  discipline  would 
prove  one  of  the  most  effective  means  of  checking  the 
development  of  this  morbid  tendency.  Self-control  and 
self-discipline  should  be  cultivated  from  the  earliest 
period  in  the  education  of  every  child. 

It  is  indisputable  that  sexual  vices  are  far  less  prev- 
alent among  those  barbarous  tribes  who  live  much  in 
the  open  air  and  obtain  their  sustenance  by  such 
arduous  means  as  hunting  and  the  gathering  of  the 
meager  products  of  the  forest  and  the  untilled  soil, 
than  among  civilized  people;  and  it  is  also  a  fact  that 
among  civilized  people,  sensuality  is  far  more  preva- 
lent with  the  nervous,  excitable  classes— those  who  are 
inferiorly  developed  physically,  and  whose  occupations 
are  not  laborious— than  among  the  agricultural  popu- 
lation, and  other  classes  whose  occupation  calls  for 
vigorous  exercise  of  the  muscles.  The  most  effective 
method  of  antagonizing  vice  among  these  classes,  is 
to  improve  their  condition  physically,  and  to  give  mus- 
cular employments  to  antidote  the  tendency  in  their 
constitutions  by  which  they  become  dangerous  to  the 
moral  health  of  the  community. 


238  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL 

Illicit  intercourse  has  been  a  common  vice  of  hu- 
manity from  the  earliest  period  of  history.  At  the 
present  moment,  it  is  a  loathsome  ulcer,  eating  at  the 
heart  of  civilization ;  a  malignant  leprosy,  which  shows 
its  hideoiis  deformities  amidst  the  fairest  results  of 
modern  culture.  Our  large  cities  abound  with  dens 
of  vice  whose  habitues  shamelessly  promenade  the  most 
public  streets,  and  flaunt  their  infamy  in  the  face  of 
every  passer-by.  In  many  large  cities,  especially  in 
those  of  Continental  Europe,  these  holds  of  vice  are 
placed  under  the  supervision  of  the  law  by  the  require- 
ment that  every  keeper  of  a  house  of  prostitution  must 
pay  a  license;  in  other  words,  must  buy  the  right  to 
lead  his  f ellowmen  ' '  down  to  the  lowest  depths  of  hell. ' ' 

In  small  cities,  as  well  as  in  large  ones,  in  fact,  from 
the  great  metropolis  down  to  the  country  village,  the 
haunts  of  vice  are  found.  Every  army  is  flanked  by 
bands  of  courtesans.  Wherever  men  go,  loose  women 
follow,  penetrating  even  to  the  wildness  of  the  miner's 
camp,  far  beyond  the  verge  of  civilization. 

But  brothels  and  traveling  strumpets  do  not  fully 
represent  the  vast  extent  of  this  monster  evil.  There 
is  a  class  of  immoral  women— probably  exceeding  in 
numbers  the  grosser  class  just  referred  to— who  con- 
sider themselves  respectable,  indeed,  who  are  so  con- 
sidered by  the  public.  Few  are  acquainted  with  their 
character.  They  live  in  elegant  style  and  mingle  in 
genteel  society.  Privately,  they  prosecute  the  most 
unbounded  licentiousness,  for  the  purpose  of  gain,  or 
merely  to  gratify  their  lewdness.  "Kept  mistresses" 
are  much  more  numerous  than  common  prostitutes. 


SODOM  AND   GOMORRAH 


239-a 


POMPEn  AND  HERCULANEUM 


239-b 


UNCHASTITY  241 


THe  numeroTis  scandal  and  divorce  suits  which  ex- 
pose the  infidelity  of  husbands  and  wives,  are  sufficient 
evidence  that  illicit  commerce  is  not  confined  to  the 
unmarried ;  but  so  many  are  the  facilities  for  covering 
and  preventing  the  results  of  sins  of  this  description 
that  it  is  impossible  to  form  any  just  estimate  of  their 
frequency.  The  incontinence  of  husbands  and  the  un- 
chastity  of  wives  will  only  appear  in  their  enormity 
at  that  awful  day  when  every  one  shall  ''stand  before 
the  judgment  seat,"  and  receive  the  penalty  of  his 
guilty  deeds. 

Unchastity  in  Ancient  Times,— We  would  fain 
believe  the  present  to  be  the  most  licentious  age  the 
world  has  ever  known;  that  in  the  nineteenth  century 
the  climax  of  evil  has  been  reached ;  that  the  libidinous 
blood  of  all  ages  has  culminated  to  produce  a  race  of 
men  more  carnal  than  all  their  predecessors.  It  is  a 
sickening  thought  that  any  previous  epoch  could  have 
been  more  vile  than  this;  but  history  presents  facts 
which  disclose  in  ancient  times  periods  when  lust  was 
even  more  uncontrolled  than  now;  when  vice  was  uni- 
versal; and  when  virtue  was  a  thing  unknown. 

From  the  Sacred  Record,  we  may  judge  that  before 
the  flood  a  state  of  corruption  prevailed  which  was 
even  greater  and  more  general  than  any  that  has  ever 
since  been  reached;  only  eight  persons  were  fit  to  sur- 
vive the  calamity  which  swept  into  eternity  that  lust- 
ful generation  with  their  filthy  deeds. 

But  men  soon  fell  into  vice  again;  for  we  find 
among  the  early  Assyrians  a  total  disregard  of  chas- 
tity.   Their  kings  reveled  in  the  grossest  sensuality. 

No  excess  of  vice  could  surpass  the  licentiousness 
of  the  Ptolemies,  who  made  of  Alexandria  a  bagnio, 
and  all  Egypt  a  hotbed  of  vice.    Herodotus  relates  that 


242  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

''the  pyramid  of  Clieops  was  built  by  the  lovers  of 
the  daughter  of  this  king;  and  that  she  never  would 
have  raised  this  monument  to  such  a  height  except  by 
multiplying  her  prostitutions." 

Tyre  and  Sidon,  Media,  Phoenicia,  Syria,  and  all  the 
Orient  were  sunk  in  sensuality.  Fornication  was  made 
a  part  of  their  worship.  Women  carried  through  the 
streets  of  the  cities  the  most  obscene  and  revolting  rep- 
resentations. 

St.  Augustine  speaks  of  these  religious  debauch- 
eries as  still  practiced  in  his  day  in  Phoenicia.  They 
were  even  continued  until  Constantine  destroyed  the 
temples  in  which  they  were  practiced,  in  the  fourth 
century. 

Among  the  Greeks  the  same  corruptions  prevailed 
in  the  worship  of  Bacchus  and  Phallus,  which  was  cele- 
brated by  processions  of  half -nude  girls  "performing 
lascivious  dances  with  men  disguised  as  satyrs."  In. 
fact,  as  X.  Bourgeois  says,  ''Prostitution  was  in  re- 
pute in  Greece." 

The  abandonment  to  lust  was,  if  possible,  still  more 
complete  in  the  times  of  the  Roman  emperors.  Rome 
astonished  the  universe  "by  the  boldness  of  its  turpi- 
tudes, after  having  astonished  it  by  the  splendor  of 
its  triumphs." 

If  this  degraded  voluptuousness  had  been  confined 
to  royalty,  some  respect  might  yet  be  entertained  for 
the  virtue  of  the  ancients;  but  the  foul  infection  was 
not  restrained  within  such  narrow  bounds.  It  invaded 
whole  empires,  until  they  fell  in  pieces  from  very  rot- 
tenness. 

Though  there  may  be  less  grossness  in  the  sensu- 
ality of  to-day,  the  moral  turpitude  of  men  may  be  even 
greater  than  that  of  ancient  times.    Enlightened  Chris- 


UNCHASTITY  243 

tianity  has  raised  the  standard  of  morality.  Christ's 
commentary  upon  the  seventh  commandment  requires 
a  more  vigorous  chastity  than  ancient  standards  de- 
manded. Consequently,  a  slight  breach  of  chastity 
now  requires  as  great  a  fall  from  virtue  as  a  greater 
lapse  in  ages  past,  and  must  be  attended  with  as  severe 
a  moral  penalty. 

State  of  Modern  Society.— But  we  are  not  quite 
certain  that  the  condition  of  modern  society  as  regards 
chastity  is  much  superior  to  that  of  periods  of  the 
world  to  which  reference  has  been  made.  AVhile  on 
a  tour  through  Europe,  a  few  years  ago,  the  author 
took  some  pains  to  gather  facts  upon  this  point  from 
various  authentic  sources,  and  was  amazed  at  the  enor- 
mous prevalence  of  sexual  crimes  in  the  great  and 
oldest  centers  of  modern  civilization.  In  Paris,  the 
places  of  amusement  and  public  resort  are  thronged 
with  brazen  courtesans,  watching  for  victims. 

In  Naples,  lasciviousness  stalks  abroad  at  all  hours 
of  the  day  and  night.  Women  sell  their  souls  for  a 
few  farthings,  and  the  debauched  people  vie  with  one 
another  in  imitating  the  horrible  obscenities  and  sex- 
ual sins  of  the  Eomari  Sodom  and  Gomorrha— Pompeii 
and  Herculaneum— and  that  with  the  terrible  judg- 
ment which  fell  upon  these  dens  of  iniquity  daily  before 
their  eyes,  while  just  above  them  still  towers  the  stern 
old  Vesuvius,  from  whose  fiery*  bowels  were  in  olden 
times  poured  out  the  vials  of  Almighty  wrath,  and  in 
which  are  still  heard  the  mutterings  of  a  day  of  wrath 
sure  to  come. 

In  London,  the  boasted  ''center  of  modern  civili- 
zation," the  number  of  women  who  are  leading  lives 
of  shame  and  ignominy  is  sufficiently  great  to  people 
a  large  city  or  a  small  province.    In  no  city  are  the 

15 


244  PLAIN   FACTS   FOB   OLD   AND   YOUNG 


signs  of  vice  and  ignorance  more  plainly  seen  than  in 
the  metropolis  of  the  world. 

It  would  be  well  for  mothers  to  read  carefully  the 
following  paragraph  from  the  Pall  Mall  Gazette  at  the 
time  of  its  exposure  of  vice  in  London: 

"The  Responsibility  of  Mothers."— The  igno- 
rance of  these  girls  is  almost  incredible.  It  is  one  of 
the  greatest  scandals  of  Protestant  training  that  par- 
ents are  allowed  to  keep  their  children  in  total  igno- 
rance of  the  simplest  truths  of  physiology,  without 
even  a  rudimentary  conception  of  the  nature  of  sexual 
morality.  Catholic  children  are  much  better  trained; 
and  whatever  may  be  the  case  in  other  countries,  the 
chastity  of  Catholic  girls  is  much  greater  than  that  of 
Protestants  in  the  same  social  strata.  Owing  to  the 
soul-and-body-destroying  taciturnity  of  Protestant 
mothers,  girls  often  arrive  at  the  age  of  legal  woman- 
hood in  total  ignorance,  and  are  turned  loose  to  con- 
tend with  all  the  wiles  of  the  procuress  and  the  temp- 
tations of  the  seducer  without  the  most  elementary 
acquaintance  with  the  laws  of  their  own  existence. 
.  .  .  The  culpable  refusal  of  mothers  to  explain 
to  their  daughters  the  realities  and  the  dangers  of 
their  existence,  contributes  to  fill  the  brothels  of 
London. ' ' 

The  committee,  which  included  Cardinal  Manning, 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  other  eminent  gentle- 
men, appointed  to  investigate  the  charges  of  the  Pall 
Mall  Gazette,  reported  as  follows: 

''After  carefully  sifting  the  evidence  of  witnesses, 
and  the  material  before  us,  and  without  guaranteeing 
the  accuracy  of  every  particular,  we  are  satisfied  that, 
taken  as  a  whole,  the  statements  in  the  Pall  Mall 
Gazette  on  this  question  are  substantially  true." 


MOTHER'S  INFLUENCE 


245-a 


GUARDING   THE   HOME 


245 -b 


w 
a; 

< 

CL, 

o 


Pi 

w 
H 


TJNCHASTITY  247 


Nor  are  those  terrible  practices  confined  to  the  Old 
World.  Any  one  who  is  at  all  acquainted  with  the 
police  records  of  our  large  cities  must  be  fully  aware 
of  the  fact  that  crimes  approximately  as  enormous  in 
extent,  if  not  fully  as  great,  are  perpetrated  constantly 
in  New  York  and  other  great  American  cities.  In  an 
address  presented  at  the  eleventh  annual  meeting  of 
the  National  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union, 
held  at  Philadelphia,  Miss  Frances  E.  Willard,  the 
president  of  that  great  organization,  in  dwelling  upon 
the  need  of  an  active  department  for  the  suppression 
of  the  social  evil,  remarked  as  follows: 

''The  effect  upon  our  minds  of  such  unspeakable 
disclosures  as  those  of  the  Pall  Mall  Gazette,  and  the 
horrible  assurances  given  us  by  such  authority  as  Dr. 
Elizabeth  Blackwell,  that  we  should  uncap  perdition 
in  the  same  direction  were  the  hidden  life  of  our  great 
cities  known,  has  so  stirred  the  heart  of  womanhood 
throughout  this  land,  that  we  are,  I  trust,  ready  for  an 
advance.  Had  we  to-day  the  right  woman  in  this  place 
of  unequaled  need  and  opportunity,  we  could  be  in- 
strumental in  the  passage  of  such  laws  as  would  pun- 
ish the  outrage  of  defenseless  girls  and  women  by  mak- 
ing the  repetition  of  such  outrage  an  impossibility. 
Women  only  can  induce  lawmakers  to  furnish  this  most 
availing  of  all  possible  methods  of  protection  to  the 
physically  weak.  Men  alone  will  never  gain  the  cour- 
age thus  to  legislate  against  other  men.  Crimes 
against  women  seem  to  be  upon  the  increase  every- 
where. 

' '  It  is  a  marvel  not  to  be  explained,  that  we  go  on 
the  even  tenor  of  our  way,  too  delicate,  too  refined, 
too  prudish  to  make  any  allusion  to  these  awful  facts, 
much  less  to  take  up  arms  against  these  awful  crimes. 


248  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

' '  We  have  been  the  victims  of  conventional  coward- 
ice too  long.  Let  us  signalize  the  second  century  of 
temperance  reform  by  a  fearless  avowal  of  our  pur- 
pose to  take  up  the  work  of  promoting  social  purity 
by  the  inculcation  of  right  principles,  and  the  serious 
demand  for  more  equitable  laws." 

Causes  of  the  Social  Evil.— We  have  seen  how 
universal  is  the  social  evil,  that  it  is  a  vice  almost  as 
old  as  man  himself,  which  shows  how  deeply  rooted  in 
his  perverted  nature  it  has  become.  The  inquiry  arises, 
Wliat  are  the  causes  of  so  monstrous  a  vice,  so  gross 
an  outrage  upon  nature's  laws,  so  withering  a  blight 
upon  the  race?  A  vice  that  has  become  so  great  an 
evil,  even  in  these  enlightened  times,  as  to  defy  the 
most  skilful  legislation,  which  openly  displays  its  gaudy 
filthiness  and  mocks  at  virtue  with  a  lecherous  stare, 
must  have  its  origin  in  causes  too  powerful  to  be  ig- 
nored. 

Man's  Lewdness. — It  cannot  be  denied  that  men 
are  in  the  greatest  degree  responsible  for  the  social 
evil.  The  general  principle  holds  true  here  as  else- 
where, that  the  supply  is  regulated  by  the  demand.  If 
the  patrons  of  prostitution  should  withdraw  their  sup- 
port by  a  sudden  acquisition  of  virtue,  how  soon  would 
this  vilest  of  traffics  cease!  The  inmates  of  brothels 
would  themselves  become  continent,  if  not  virtuous, 
as  the  result  of  such  a  spasm  of  chastity  in  men. 

Again,  the  ranks  of  fallen  women,  which  are  rap- 
idly thinned  by  loathsome  diseases  and  horrid  deaths, 
are  largely  recruited  from  that  class  of  unfortunates 
for  whose  fall  faithless  lovers  or  cunning,  heartless 
libertines  are  chiefly  responsible.  The  weak  girl  who, 
through  too  much  trust,  has  been  deceived  and  robbed 
of   her   dearest   treasure,    is    disowned   by    relatives, 


UNCHASTITY  249 

shunned  by  her  acquaintances  and  turned  out  upon  a 
cold  world  without  money,  without  friends,  without  a 
character.  What  can  she  do  1  Respectable  employment 
she  cannot  find;  for  rumor  follows  her.  There  seems 
to  be  but  one  door  open,  the  one  which  she  herself  so 
unintentionally  opened.  In  despair,  she  enters  the 
''open  road  to  hell,"  and  to  her  first  sad  error  adds  a 
life  of  shame.  Meanwhile,  the  villain  who  betrayed 
her  maintains  his  standing  in  society,  and  plies  his 
arts  to  win  other  victims.  Is  there  not  an  unfair  dis- 
crimination here?  Should  not  the  seducer  be  black- 
ened with  an  infamy  at  least  as  deep  as  that  which 
society  casts  upon  the  one  ])etrayed? 

Fashion.— Tne  tempLalion  of  dress,  fine  clothing, 
costly  jewelry,  and  all  the  extravagances  in  which 
rich  ladies  array  themselves,  is  in  many  cases  too  pow- 
erful for  the  weakened  virtue  of  poor  seamstresses, 
operatives,  and  servant  girls,  who  have  seen  so  much 
of  vice  as  to  lose  that  instinctive  loathing  for  it  which 
they  may  have  once  experienced.  Thinking  to  gain 
a  life  of  ease,  with  means  to  gratify  their  love  of  show, 
they  barter  away  their  peace  of  mind  for  this  world, 
all  hope  for  the  next,  and  only  gain  a  little  worthless 
tinsel,  the  scorn  of  their  fellow  creatures  and  a  host 
of  loathsome  diseases. 

Lack  of  Early  Training.— It  is  needless  to  dem- 
onstrate a  fact  so  well  established  as  that  the  future 
character  of  an  individual  depends  very  largely  upon 
his  early  training.  If  purity  and  modesty  are  taught 
from  earliest  infancy,  the  mind  is  fortified  against  the 
assaults  of  vice.  If,  instead,  the  child  is  allowed  to 
grow  up  untrained,  if  the  seeds  of  vice  which  are  sure 
to  fall  sooner  or  later  in  the  most  carefully  kept  ground, 
are  allowed  to  germinate,  if  the  first  buds  of  evil  are 


250  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

allowed  to  grow  and  unfold,  instead  of  being  promptly 
nipped,  it  must  not  be  considered  remarkable  that  in 
later  years  rank  weeds  of  sin  should  flourish  in  the 
soul,  and  bear  their  hideous  fruit  in  shameless  lives. 

Neglect  to  guard  the  avenues  by  which  evil  may 
approach  the  young  mind,  and  to  erect  barriers  against 
vice  by  careful  instruction  and  a  chaste  example,  leaves 
many  innocent  souls  open  to  the  assaults  of  evil,  and 
an  easy  prey  to  lust.  If  children  are  allowed  to  get 
their  training  in  the  street,  at  the  corner  grocery,  or 
hovering  around  saloons,  they  will  be  sure  to  develop 
a  vigorous  growth  of  the  animal  passions.  The  fol- 
lowing extract  is  from  the  writings  of  one  whose  pen 
has  been  an  inestimable  blessing  to  American  youth: 

*' Among  the  first  lessons  which  boys  learn  of  their 
fellows  are  impurities  of  language ;  and  these  are  soon 
followed  by  impurities  of  thought.  .  .  .  When  this  is 
the  training  of  boyhood,  it  is  not  strange  that  the  pre- 
dominating ideas  among  young  men,  in  relation  to  the 
other  sex,  are  too  often  those  of  impurity  and  sensual- 
ity. .  .  ,  We  cannot  be  surprised,  then,  that  the  history 
of  most  young  men  is,  that  they  yield  to  temptation  in 
a  greater  or  less  degree  and  in  different  ways.  With 
many,  no  doubt,  the  indulgence  is  transient,  accidental, 
and  does  not  become  habitual.  It  does  not  get  to  be 
regarded  as  venial.  It  is  never  yielded  to  without  re- 
morse. The  wish  and  the  purpose  are  to  resist;  but 
the  animal  nature  bears  down  the  moral.  Still,  trans- 
gression is  always  followed  by  grief  and  penitence. 

''With  too  many,  however,  it  is  to  be  feared  it  is 
not  so.  The  mind  has  become  debauched  by  dwelling 
on  licentious  images,  and  by  indulgence  in  licentious 
conversation.  There  is  no  wish  to  resist.  They  are 
not  overtaken  by  temptation;  for  they  seek  it.    With 


UNCHASTITY  251 

them  the  transgression  becomes  habitual,  and  the  stain 
on  the  character  is  deep  and  lasting. ' '  * 

Poverty.—  The  pressing  influence  of  poverty  has 
been  urged  as  one  cause  of  prostitution.  It  cannot  be 
denied  that  in  many  cases,  in  large  cities,  this  may  be 
the  immediate  occasion  of  the  entrance  of  a  young  girl 
upon  a  life  of  shame;  but  it  may  still  be  insisted  that 
there  must  have  been,  in  such  cases,  a  deficiency  in 
previous  training;  for  a  young  woman,  educated  with 
a  proper  regard  for  purity,  would  sooner  sacrifice  life 
itself  than  virtue.  Again,  poverty  can  be  no  excuse; 
for  in  every  city  there  are  made  provisions  for  the 
relief  of  the  needy  poor,  and  none  who  are  really 
worthy  need  suffer. 

Ignorance.  —  Nothing  fosters  vice  more  than  ig- 
norance. Public  prostitutes  come  almost  entirely 
from  the  more  ignorant  classes,  though  there  are,  of 
course,  many  exceptions.  Among  the  lowest  classes, 
vice  is  seen  in  its  grossest  forms,  and  is  carried  to  the 
greatest  lengths.  Intellectual  and  moral  culture  are 
antagonistic  to  sensuality.  As  a  general  rule,  in  pro- 
portion as  the  intellect  is  developed,  the  animal  pas- 
sions are  brought  into  subjection. 

Disease.—  Various  diseases  which  cause  local  irri- 
tation and  congestion  of  the  reproductive  organs  are 
the  causes  of  unchastity  in  both  sexes^  as  previously 
explained.  It  not  infrequently  happens  that  by  con- 
stantly dwelling  upon  unchaste  subjects  until  a  con- 
dition of  habitual  congestion  of  the  sexual  organs  is 
produced,  young  women  become  seized  with  a  maniacal 
furor  for  libidinous  commerce.  This  disease,  known 
as  nymphomania,  has  been  the  occasion  of  the  fall  of 
many  young  women  of  the  better  classes  who  had  been 
bred  in  luxury  and  idleness,  but  were  never  taught  the 

*  Ware. 


252  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

lessons  of  purity  and  self-control.  Constipation,  piles, 
worms,  pruritis  of  tlie  genitals,  and  some  other  less 
common  diseases  of  the  urinary  and  genital  systems, 
have  been  causes  of  sexual  excitement  which  has  re- 
sulted in  moral  degradation. 

Results  of  Licentiousness.  —  Apparently  as  a 
safeguard  to  virtue,  nature  has  appended  to  the  sin  of 
illicit  sexual  indulgence,  as  penalties,  the  most  loath- 
some, deadly,  and  incurable  diseases  known  to  man. 
Some  of  these,  as  gonorrhea  and  chancroid,  are  purely 
local  diseases;  and  though  they  occasion  the  trans- 
gressor a  vast  amount  of  suffering,  they  may  be  cured 
and  leave  no  trace  of  their  presence  except  in  the  con- 
science of  the  individual.  Such  a  result,  however,  is 
by  no  means  the  usual  one.  Most  frequently,  the  in- 
jury done  is  more  or  less  permanent;  sometimes  it 
amounts  to  loss  of  life  or  serious  mutilation,  as  in 
cases  we  have  seen.  And  one  attack  secures  no  im- 
munity from  subsequent  ones,  as  a  new  disease  may 
be  contracted  upon  every  exposure. 

By  far  the  worst  form  of  venereal  disease  is  syphi- 
lis, a  malady  which  was  formerly  confounded  with  the 
two  forms  of  disease  mentioned,  but  from  which  it  is 
essentially  different.  At  first  a  very  slight  local  lesion, 
of  no  more  consequence— except  from  its  significance 
—than  a  small  boil,  it  rapidly  infects  the  general  sys- 
tem, poisoning  the  whole  body,  and  liable  forever  after 
to  develop  itself  in  any  one  or  more  of  its  protean 
forms.  The  most  loathsome  sight  upon  which  a  human 
eye  can  rest  is  a  victim  of  this  disease  who  presents 
it  well  developed  in  its  later  stages.  To  describe  them 
would  be  to  place  before  our  readers  a  picture  too  re- 
volting for  these  pages.  No  pen  can  portray  the  woe- 
begone faces,  the  hopeless  air,  of  these  degraded  suf- 


UNCHASTITY  253 


ferers  whose  repentance  has  come,  alas !  too  late.  No 
words  can  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  their  sufferings. 
What  remorse  and  useless  regrets  add  to  the  misery 
of  their  wretched  existence  as  they  daily  watch  the  prog- 
ress of  a  malignant  ulceration  which  is  destroying  their 
organs  of  speech,  or  burrowing  deep  into  the  recesses 
of  the  skull,  penetrating  even  to  the  brain  itself! 
Even  the  bones  become  rotten;  foul  running  sores 
appear  on  different  portions  of  the  body,  and  may  even 
cover  it  entirely.  Perhaps  the  nose,  or  the  tongue,  or 
the  lips,  or  an  eye,  or  some  other  necessary  organ,  is 
lost.  Still  the  miserable  sufferer  lingers  on,  life  serv- 
ing only  to  prolong  the  torture.  To  many  of  them, 
death  would  be  a  grateful  release. 

Thousands  of  Victims.—  The  venturesome  youth 
need  not  attempt  to  calm  his  fears  by  thinking  that 
these  are  only  exceptional  cases;  for  this  is  not  the 
truth.  In  any  city,  one  who  has  an  experienced  eye  can 
scarcely  walk  a  dozen  blocks  on  busy  streets  without 
encountering  the  woeful  effects  of  sexual  transgression. 
Neither  do  these  results  come  only  from  long-continued 
violations  of  the  laws  of  chastity.  The  very  first  de- 
parture from  virtue  may  occasion  all  the  worst  effects 
possible. 

Effects  of  Vice  Ineradicable.  —  Another  fear- 
ful feature  of  this  terrible  disease  is  that  when  once  it 
invades  the  system,  its  eradication  may  be  impossible. 
No  drug,  no  chemical,  can  antidote  its  virulent  poison, 
or  drive  it  from  the  system.  Various  means  may 
smother  it,  possibly  for  a  lifetime;  but  yet  it  is  not 
cured,  and  the  patient  is  never  safe  from  a  new  out- 
break. Professor  Bumstead,  an  acknowledged  author- 
ity on  this  subject,  after  observing  the  disease  for 
many  years,  says  that  he  never,  after  treatment,  how- 


254  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

ever  prolonged,  promises  ' '  immunity  for  tlie  future. ' '  * 
Dr.  Van  Buren,  professor  of  surgery  at  Bellevue  Hos- 
pital Medical  College,  New  York,  bears  the  same  testi- 
mony. 

Professor  Van  Buren  also  says  that  he  has  seen  the 
disease  occur  upon  the  lips  of  young  ladies  who  were 
entirely  virtuous,  but  who  were  engaged  to  men  who 
had  contracted  the  disease,  and  had  communicated  it 
to  them  in  the  act  of  kissing.  Virtuous  wives  have  not 
infrequently  had  their  constitutions  hopelessly  ruined 
by  contracting  the  disease  from  husbands  who  had 
themselves  been  inoculated  either  before  or  after  mar- 
riage, by  illicit  intercourse.  Several  such  unfortunate 
cases  have  fallen  under  our  observation,  and  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  they  are  not  infrequent. 

The  Only  Hope.—  The  only  hope  for  one  who  has 
contracted  this  disease  is  to  lead  a  life  of  perfect  con- 
tinence ever  after,  and  by  a  most  careful  life,  by  con- 
forming strictly  to*  the  laws  of  health,  by  bathing  and 
dieting,  he  may  possibly  avoid  the  horrid  consequences 
of  the  later  stages  of  the  malady.  Drugs  certainly  will 
not  cure  it. 

The  following  strong  testimony  on  this  subject  we 
quote  from  an  admirable  pamphlet  by  Prof.  Fred.  H. 
Gerrish,  M.  D.-: 

''The  diseases  dependent  upon  prostitution  are 
appallingly  frequent,  a  distinguished  surgeon  recently 
declaring  that  one  person  in  twenty  in  the  United 
States  has  syphilis,—  a  malady  so  ineradicable  that  a 
profound  observer  has  remarked  that  'a  man  who  is 
once  thus  poisoned,  will  die  a  syphilitic,  and  in  the  day 
of  Judgment  he  will  be  a  syphilitic  ghost.'  Professor 
Gross  says:  'Wliat  is  called  scrofula,  struma,  or 
tuberculosis,  is,  I  have  long  been  satisfied  from  careful 

*"  Venereal  Diseasev." 


UNCHASTITY  255 

observation  of  the  sick  and  a  profound  study  of  the 
literature  of  the  subject,  in  a  great  majority  of  cases, 
if  not  invariably,  merely  syphilis  in  its  more  remote 
stages.'  Though  there  are  doubtless  many  of  us  who 
believe  that  a  not  inconsiderable  proportion  of  scrofu- 
lous and  phthisical  cases  are  clearly  due  to  other  causes 
than  syphilis,  we  must  admit  that  this  statement  con- 
tains a  very  large  element  of  truth." 

Hereditary  Effects  of  Venereal  Disease.— The 
transgressor  is  not  the  only  sufferer.  If  he  mar- 
ries, his  children,  if  they  survive  infancy,  are  likely, 
in  later  years,  to  show  the  effects  of  their  father's  sin, 
exhibiting  the  forms  of  the  disease  seen  in  its  later 
stages.  Scrofula,  consumption,  cancer,  rickets,  diseases 
of  the  brain  and  nerves,  decay  of  the  bones  by  caries 
or  necrosis,  and  other  diseases  arise  in  this  way. 

But  it  generally  happens  that  the  child  dies  before 
birth,  or  lingers  out  a  miserable  existence  of  a  few  days 
or  weeks  thereafter.  A  most  pitiable  sight  these  little 
ones  are.  Their  faces  look  as  old  as  children  of  ten  or 
twelve.  Often  their  bodies  become  reduced  before 
death  to  the  most  wretched  skeletons.  Their  hollow, 
feeble  cry  sends  a  shudder  of  horror  through  the  list- 
ener, and  impresses  indelibly  the  terrible  consequences 
of  sexual  sin.  Plenty  of  these  scrawny  infants  may  be 
seen  in  the  lying-in  hospitals. 

No  one  can  estimate  how  much  of  the  excessive 
mortality  of  infants  is  owing  to  this  cause. 

In  children  who  survive  infancy,  its  blighting  in- 
fluence may  be  seen  in  the  notched,  deformed  teeth, 
and  other  defects ;  and  very  often  it  will  be  found,  upon 
looking  into  the  mouth  of  the  child,  that  the  soft  palate, 
and  perhaps  the  hard  palate  as  well,  is  in  a  state  of 
ulceration.    There  is  more  than  a  suspicion  that  this 


256  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

disease  may  be  transmitted  for  several  generations, 
perhaps  remaining  latent  during  the  lifetime  of  one, 
and  appearing  in  all  its  virulence  in  the  next. 

Origin  of  the  Foul  Disease.— Wliere  or  when  the 
disease  originated,  is  a  mystery.  It  is  said  to  have 
been  introduced  into  France  from  Naples  by  French 
soldiers. 

Read  the  following  from  a  noted  French  physician : 

''The  father,  as  well  as  the  mother,  communicates 
the  syphilitic  virus  to  the  children.  These  poor  little 
beings  are  attacked  sometimes  at  their  birth ;  more  often 
it  is  at  the  end  of  a  month  or  two  that  these  morbid 
s}Tnptoms  appear. 

"I  recall  the  heart-rending  anguish  of  a  mother 
whom  I  assisted  at  her  fifth  confinement.  She  related 
to  me  her  misfortune :  '  I  have  already  brought  into  the 
world  four  children.  Alas!  they  all  died  during  the 
first  months  of  their  existence.  A  frightful  eruption 
wasted  them  away,  and  killed  them.  Save  me  the  one 
that  is  about  to  be  born ! '  cried  she,  in  tears.  The  child 
that  I  delivered  was  sickly  and  puny.  A  few  days  after 
its  birth,  it  had  purulent  ophthalmia ;  then,  crusted  and 
ulcerated  pustules,  a  few  at  first,  numerous  afterward, 
covered  the  entire  surface  of  the  skin.  Soon  this  miser- 
able little  being  became  as  meager  as  a  skeleton,  hid- 
eous to  the  sight,  and  died.  Having  questioned  the 
husband,  he  acknowledged  to  me  that  he  had  had 
syphilis. ' '  * 

Cure  of  the  Social  Evil.  —  With  rare  excep- 
tions, the  efforts  of  civil  legislation  have  been  directed 
toward  controlling  or  modifying  this  vice,  rather  than 
extirpating  it. 

Among  other  devices  adopted  with  a  view  to  effect 
this,  and  to  mitigate  in  some  degree  the  resulting  evils, 

*  Bourgeois. 


UNCHASTITY  257 


the  issuing  of  licenses  for  brothels  has  been  practiced 
in  several  large  cities.  One  of  the  conditions  of  the 
license  makes  it  obligatory  upon  the  keepers  of  houses 
of  ill-repute  and  their  inmates  to  submit  to  medical 
examination  at  stated  intervals.  By  this  means,  it  is 
expected  to  detect  the  cases  of  foul  disease  at  the  out- 
set, and  thus  to  protect  others  by  placing  the  infected 
individuals  under  restraint  and  treatment.  It  will  be 
seen  that  for  many  reasons  such  examinations  could 
not  be  effective;  but,  even  if  they  were,  the  propriety 
of  this  plan  of  dealing  with  the  vice  is  exceedingly 
questionable,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  con- 
siderations : 

1.  The  moment  that  prostitution  is  placed  under  the 
protection  of  law  by  means  of  a  license,  it  at  once  loses 
half  its  disrepute,  and  becomes  respectable,  as  do  gam- 
bling and  liquor-selling  under  the  same  circumstances. 

2.  Why  should  so  vile  a  crime  as  fornication  be 
taken  under  legal  protection  more  than  stealing  or  the 
lowest  forms  of  gambling!  Is  it  not  a  lesser  crime 
against  human  nature  to  rob  a  man  of  his  money  by 
theft  or  by  deceit  and  trickery,  than  to  snatch  from 
him  at  one  fell  swoop  his  health,  his  virtue,  and  his 
peace  of  mind  ?  Wliy  not  as  well  have  laws  to  regulate 
burglary  and  assassination,  allowing  the  perpetrators 
of  those  crimes  to  ply  their  chosen  avocations  with 
impunity  under  certain  prescribed  restrictions? 

3.  By  the  use  of  certain  precautionary  measures, 
the  fears  of  many  will  be  allayed,  so  that  thousands 
whose  fear  of  the  consequences  of  sin  would  otherwise 
have  kept  them  physically  virtuous,  at  least,  errone- 
ously supposing  that  the  cause  for  fear  has  been  re- 
moved, will  rush  madly  into  a  career  of  vice,  and  will 
learn  only  too  late  the  folly  of  their  course. 


258  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND   YOUNG 

There  is  probably  no  country  in  which  the  provi- 
sions of  this  Contagious  Disease  Act  have  been  so  thor- 
oughly carried  out  as  in  Germany;  nevertheless,  the 
commission  appointed  by  the  Society  of  Medicine,  of 
Berlin,  with  Professor  Virchow  as  president,  recently 
reported  as  the  result  of  an  investigation,  that  both 
prostitution  and  venereal  diseases  were  found  to  be 
rapidly  increasing  in  Berlin.  For  example,  the  number 
of  regular  prostitutes,  recognized  as  such  by  the  police, 
was,  in  1886,  3,006.  The  number  had  increased  in  1891 
to  4,364,  an  increase  of  almost  fifty  per  cent.  This  rep- 
resents, however,  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  women 
actually  engaged  in  prostitution,  as  16,000  women  are 
annually  arrested  for  plying  their  vocation  upon  the 
streets  in  Berlin,  and  it  is  known  that  a  great  number 
of  women  lead  lives  of  prostitution  clandestinely;  so 
the  committee  estimate  the  total  number  of  prostitutes 
in  Berlin  at  40,000  to  50,000. 

Some  idea  of  the  number  of  persons  who  are  annu- 
ally infected  by  venereal  disease  may  be  gained  from 
the  fact  that  the  committee  reported  nearly  80,000  cases 
as  having  been  treated  at  two  hospitals  alone,  in  Berlin, 
between  1880  and  1889.  The  fact  was  also  mentioned 
by  the  committee,  that  a  great  number  of  cases  were 
doubtless  not  included  in  this  category.  They  quote 
the  estimate  of  Blaschko,  that  one  in  every  nine  or  ten 
of  the  male  population  of  Berlin  has  been  infected  with 
syphilis. 

A  most  convincing  evidence  of  the  utter  inefficiency 
of  the  inspection  service  in  preventing  the  spread  of 
venereal  diseases,  was  shown  by  the  fact  developed  by 
the  committee,  that  the  naked  eye  inspection  which  has 
been  universally  relied  upon,  detects  less  than  one  in 
five  of  the  cases  of  gonorrhea,  to  say  nothing  of  syphi- 


UNCHASTITY  259 


lis.  By  making  a  bacteriological  examination  of  each 
case,  tlie  proportion  of  prostitutes  found  to  be  suffer- 
ing from  gonorrhea  was  increased  from  nine  per  cent 
to  fifty  per  cent. 

The  conclusions  drawn  by  the  committee  as  to  the 
proper  action  to  be  taken  under  the  circumstances, 
seem  to  us  quite  absurd.  Instead  of  recommending  the 
abandonment  of  the  unwise  attempt  to  make  vice  safe, 
by  enabling  the  criminal  to  escape  the  penalty  which 
nature  inflicts  for  the  transgression  of  moral  and  natu- 
ral law  in  relation  to  purity,  they  recommend  a  more 
rigid  investigation,  suggesting  that  the  examination 
should  be  made  twice  a  week  instead  of  weekly,  and 
that  a  bacteriological  examination  should  be  made  in 
every  case.  They  also  recommend  that  special  hos- 
pitals and  dispensaries  shall  be  provided  for  persons 
suffering  from  venereal  disorders,  where  they  may  be 
treated  at  the  public  expense,  and  thus  enabled  to  re- 
turn as  quickly  as  possible  to  their  base  and  immoral 
business. 

What  a  horrible  spectacle  is  this  to  contemplate  in 
the  midst  of  our  boasted  civilization !  A  vast  outfit  of 
laboratories  and  hospitals,  an  army  of  physicians, 
nurses,  pharmacists,  clerks,  etc.,  all  devoting  their  lives 
to  the  fostering  and  encouraging  of  a  business  which 
depends  wholly  for  its  existence  upon  the  violation  of 
the  laws  of  God  and  man!  If  the  moral  sense  of  so- 
ciety, especially  of  politicians,—  and  it  is  feared  the 
same  must  also  be  said  to  a  considerable  extent  of  the 
medical  profession,—  were  not  blunted  to  a  most  as- 
tonishing degree,  the  only  remedy  which  would  be  sug- 
gested for  this  gigantic  evil  would  be  its  absolute  pro- 
hibition and  extermination  by  means  of  severe  penalties 
and  a  faithful  administration  of  the  law.    What  can 


260  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

be  said  of  the  inconsistency  of  which  nearly  every 
civilized  community  is  guilty,  shown  in  the  mainte- 
nance of  laws  regulating  prostitution  and  licentiousness 
a  crime,  while  at  the  same  time  this  deadly  traffic  is 
winked  at  and  not  infrequently  protected  and  encour- 
aged! 

These  facts  are  commended  to  the  consideration  of 
those  who  are  anxious  to  introduce  into  this  country 
laws  for  the  regulation  and  inspection  of  prostitutes. 

Hace  Deterioration.—  The  infection  of  one  tenth 
of  the  entire  male  population  of  a  great  city  like  Berlin 
with  so  horrible  a  constitutional  malady  as  syphilis, 
means  race  deterioration  at  a  most  terrific  rate,  and 
yet  this  estimate  is  probably  none  too  large,  for  even 
a  larger  estimate  has  been  made  in  relation  to  Vienna, 
Paris,  and  some  other  continental  cities;  and  emi- 
nent specialists  do  not  hesitate  to  place  New  York  upon 
an  even  footing  with  Berlin.  Dr.  Sanger  affirms  that 
''nearly  one  half  of  the  40,000  female  prostitutes  in 
New  York,  admit  that  they  are  or  have  been  sufferers 
from  syphilis,"  and,  says  Dr.  Gross,  "since  the  estab- 
lishment of  railroad  travel  it  has  penetrated  every 
rural  district."  We  say  "race  deterioration,"  for  the 
reason  that  the  evil  consequences  of  vice  are  not  to  be 
studied  alone  in  the  vicious,  but  may  be  traced  with 
equal  distinctness  in  the  progeny  of  the  unchaste.  Vice 
of  every  sort,  but  most  of  all,  sexual  vice,  places  an 
indelible  mark  upon  its  victims.  The  progeny  of  the  im- 
pure are  not  only  the  subjects  of  special  ailments  which 
have  been  traced  directly  to  the  various  specific  infec- 
tions communicable  through  unchastity,  but  they  are 
also  subject  to  general  constitutional  feebleness,  weak- 
ness of  will,  lack  of  mental,  moral,  and  phj^sical  stam- 
ina with  little  resistance  to  disease  and  a  proneness  to 


TJNCHASTITY  261 


structural  degenerations  of  various  sorts.  Largely 
through  the  influence  of  impurity,  a  vast  multitude  of 
persons  who  might  properly  be  termed  "the  disin- 
herited," are  to  be  found  in  our  modern  communities. 
This  great  mass  of  unfortunates  is  augmented  annually 
by  a  numberless  host  of  recruits. 

Prevention  the  Only  Cure.  —Those  who  have 
once  entered  upon  a  career  of  sensuality,  are  generally 
so  completely  lost  to  all  sense  of  purity  and  right  that 
there  is  little  chance  for  reforming  them.  They  have 
no  principle  to  which  to  appeal.  The  gratification  of 
lust  so  degrades  the  soul  and  benumbs  the  higher  sen- 
sibilities that  a  votary  of  voluptuousness  is  a  most  un- 
promising subject  for  reformatory  efforts.  The  old 
adage  that  an  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound 
of  cure  is  strikingly  exemplified  in  this  case.  The 
remedy  must  be  applied  before  the  depths  have  been 
reached.  It  was  well  said  by  a  celebrated  physician  to 
a  young  man  beginning  a  life  of  vice,  "You  are  enter- 
ing upon  a  career  from  which  you  will  never  turn 
back." 

Early  Training.— The  remedy,  to  be  effective, 
must  be  applied  early,  the  earlier  the  better.  Lessons 
on  chastity  may  be  given  in  early  infancy.  The  remedy 
may  be  applied  even  farther  back  than  this;  children 
must  be  virtuously  generated. 

Children  should  be  early  taught  to  reverence  virtue, 
to  abhor  lust ;  and  boys  should  be  so  trained  that  they 
will  associate  with  the  name  of  woman  only  pure, 
chaste,  and  noble  thoughts.  Few  things  are  more  deeply 
injurious  to  the  character  of  woman,  and  more  con- 
ducive to  the  production  of  foul  imaginations  in  chil- 
dren, than  the  free  discussion  of  such  subjects  as  the 
latest  scandal  and  like  topics.  The  inquisitive  minds 
16  -  ,  - 


262  PLAIN    FACTS    FOB,    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

and  lively  imaginations  of  childhood  penetrate  the  rot- 
ten mysteries  of  such  foul  subjects  at  a  much  earlier 
age  than  many  persons  imagine.  The  inquiring  minds 
of  children  will  be  occupied  in  some  way,  and  it  is 
of  the  utmost  importance  that  they  should  be  early 
filled  with  thoughts  that  will  lead  them  to  noble  and 
pure  actions. 

The  White  Cross  Army.— This  is  the  name  of  an 
association  first  organized  in  England  in  1883  by  the 
Bishop  of  Durham,  Rt.  Rev.  J.  B.  Lightfoot,  D.  D., 
well  known  through  his  excellent  commentaries  on  the 
New  Testament.  Some  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Associations 
have  undertaken  to  effect  an  organization  of  the 
same  sort  in  this  country.  The  object  of  the  association 
is  thus  stated  in  its  constitution:  ''The  object  of  this 
Army  shall  be  the  promotion  of  purity  among  young 
men,  the  elevation  of  public  opinion  regarding  the 
question  of  personal  purity,  and  the  maintenance  of 
the  same  standard  for  men  and  women." 

All  who  join  the  organization  are  required  to  sign 
the  following  pledge: 

"I  promise  by  the  help  of  God— 

"1.  To  treat  all  women  with  respect,  and  endeavor 
to  protect  them  from  wrong  and  degradation. 

' '  2.  To  endeavor  to  put  down  all  indecent  language 
and  coarse  jests. 

"3.  To  maintain  the  law  of  purity  as  equally  bind- 
ing upon  men  and  women. 

''4.  To  endeavor  to  spread  these  principles  among 
my  companions,  and  to  try  to  help  my  younger  brothers. 

''5.  To  use  every  possible  means  to  fulfill  the  com- 
mand, 'Keep  THYSELF  pure.'  " 

At  a  meeting  held  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
this  association  in  New  York  City  a  few  years  ago, 


UNCHASTITT  263 

remarks  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  B.  F.  De  Costa, 
elucidating  the  objects  of  the  organization  as  follows: 

*'If  a  woman  sins,  you  know  what  becomes  of  her. 
Is  there  any  place  for  her  except  the  street?  If  a  man 
sins,  where  does  he  find  his  place?  Does  he  not  find 
it  in  the  highest  society  and  the  best  and  purest  homes, 
while  the  miserable  victim  of  his  lust  is  trodden  under-  ■ 
foot?  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  that,  young 
men?  Are  you  going  to  tolerate  a  double  standard! 
If  there  be  manhood  among  you,  I  call  upon  you  to 
treat  woman  as  you  would  be  treated  yourself.  If  a 
woman  falls,  she  falls  forever.  Her  own  sex  disown 
her,  and  reduce  her  to  despair.  Though  she  reform, 
and  rise  to  a  true  and  pure  life,— become  as  pure  as 
Mary  Magdalene,  aye,  as  chaste  as  the  icicles  upon  the 
temple  of  Diana,— her  own  sex  refuse  to  receive  her, 
and  scarce  allow  her  to  come  into  their  kitchens  to 
scrub  the  floor.  Now  I  say  to  you,  young  men,  be  pure 
on  account  of  her.  Whom  do  I  mean?  Mother?  Sis- 
ter? Yes,  and  another.  Sometime  there  will  be  one 
whom  you  will  regard  with  the  tenderest  love  and  affec- 
tion as  the  personification  of  purity,  beauty,  and  truth. 
You  may  not  have  found  her  yet,  but  you  will  find  her. 
What  do  you  desire  her  to  think  of  you?  If  she  loves 
you  truly,  you  know  she  will  consider  you  the  epitome 
of  goodness,  honor,  and  truth.  Will  you  not  so  live 
that  when  the  time  comes,  you  may  go  to  her  with  a 
clean  and  pure  heart,  so  that  she  may  know  that  you 
are  all  her  fancy  paints  you?  God  forbid  that  you 
should  go  to  her  and  tell  her  a  lie  under  whose  cloud 
you  must  live  for  a  lifetime." 

Branch  associations  of  this  organization  should  be 
formed  in  every  town  and  city  and  village  in  the  United 
States.    Those  who  wish  further  information  concern- 


264  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNQ 

ing  the  most  helpful  literature  on  this  and  kindred 
topics,  should  address  the  publishers  of  "Plain  Facts." 
Teach  Self-Control.— One  important  part  of  early 
training  is  the  cultivation  of  self-control,  and  a  habit 
of  self-denial,  whenever  right  demands  it.  Another 
most  essential  part  of  a  child's  moral  training  is  the 
cultivation  of  right  motives.  To  present  a  child  no 
higher  motives  for  doing  right  than  the  hope  of  secur- 
ing some  pleasant  reward,  or  the  fear  of  suffering  some 
terrible  punishment,  is  the  surest  way  to  make  of  him 
a  supremely  selfish  man,  with  no  higher  aim  than  to 
secure  good  to  himself,  no  matter  what  may  become  of 
other  people.  And  if  he  can  convince  himself  that  the 
pleasure  he  will  secure  by  the  commission  of  a  certain 
act  will  more  than  counterbalance  the  probable  risk 
of  suffering,  he  will  not  hesitate  to  commit  it,  leaving 
wholly  out  of  consideration  the  question.  Is  it  right,  or 
noble,  or  pure?  A  love  of  right  for  its  own  sake  is 
the  only  solid  basis  upon  which  to  build  a  moral  char- 
acter. Children  should  not  be  taught  to  do  right  in 
order  to  avoid  a  whipping,  or  imprisonment  in  a  dark 
closet,— a  horrid  kind  of  punishment  sometimes  re- 
sorted to,— or  even  to  escape  ''the  lake  of  fire  and 
brimstone. ' '  Neither  should  they  be  constantly  coaxed 
to  right  doing  by  promised  rewards,— a  new  toy,  a 
book,  an  excursion,  or  even  the  pleasures  of  a  future 
life.  All  these  incentives  are  selfish,  and  invariably 
narrow  the  character  and  belittle  life  when  made  the 
chief  motives  of  action.  But  rather  begin  at  the  earli- 
est possible  moment  to  instill  into  the  mind  a  love  for 
right,  and  truth,  and  purity,  and  virtue,  and  an  abhor- 
rence for  their  contraries;  then  will  he  have  a  worthy 
principle  by  which  to  square  his  life;  then  will  he  be 
safe  from  the  assaults  of  passion,  of  vice,  of  lust.    A 


UNCHASTITY  265 


mind  so  trained  stands  upon  an  eminence  from  which 
all  evil  men  and  devils  combined  cannot  displace  it,  so 
long  as  it  adheres  to  its  noble  principles. 

Mental  Culture.— The  cultivation  of  the  physical 
organization  must  not  be  neglected.  Healthful  mental 
discipline  should  receive  equal  attention.  By  healthful 
mental  discipline  is  not  meant  that  kind  of  superficial 
"cramming"  and  memorizing  which  constitute  the 
training  of  the  average  school,  but  sound  culture;  a 
directing  of  the  mind  from  facts  to  underlying  i^rin- 
ciples;  a  development  of  the  reasoning  powers  so  as 
to  bring  the  emotions  and  passions  into  subjection;  the 
acquirement  of  the  power  to  concentrate  the  mind,  one 
of  the  best  methods  of  cultivating  self-control,— these 
are  some  of  the  objects  and  results  of  sound  culture 
of  the  mind. 

To  supply  the  mind  with  food  for  pure  thoughts, 
the  child  should  be  early  inspired  with  a  love  for  na- 
ture. The  perceptives  should  be  trained,  the  child 
taught  to  observe  closely  and  accurately.  The  study 
of  the  natural  sciences  is  a  most  valuable  means  of  ele- 
vating the  mind  above  grossness  and  sensuality.  To 
be  successful  in  this  direction,  parents  must  cultivate 
a  love  for  the  same  objects  themselves.  Take  the  little 
ones  into  the  country,  if  they  are  not  so  fortunate  as 
to  live  there,  and  in  the  midst  of  nature's  glories,  point 
their  impressible  minds  upward  to  the  Author  of  all 
the  surrounding  loveliness.  Gather  flowers  and  leaves, 
and  call  attention  to  the  peculiarities  and  special  beau- 
ties of  each,  and  thus  arouse  curiosity  and  cultivate 
habits  of  close  observation  and  attention. 

Early  Associations.— As  children  grow  older, 
watch  their  associations.  Warn  them  of  evil  influences 
and  evil  practices.    Make  home  so  attractive  that  they 


266  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

will  enjoy  it  better  than  any  other  place.  Cultivate 
music;  its  mellowing,  harmonizing,  refining  influence 
is  too  great  to  be  prudently  withheld.  Children  natu- 
rally love  music;  and  if  they  cannot  hear  it  at  home, 
they  will  go  where  they  can  hear  it.  Supply  attractive 
books  of  natural  history,  travels,  interesting  and  in- 
structive biographies,  and  almost  any  other  books  but 
love-sick  novels  and  sentimental  religious  story-books. 
Guard  against  bad  books  and  bad  associates  as  care- 
fully as  though  they  were  deadly  serpents;  for  they 
are,  indeed,  the  artful  emissaries  of  the  ^*old  serpent" 
himself.  A  taste  once  formed  for  reading  light  liter- 
ature destroys  the  relish  for  solid  reading ;  and  usually 
the  taste,  once  lost,  is  never  regained.  The  fascination 
of  bad  companionship  once  formed  around  a  person, 
is  broken  with  the  greatest  difficulty.  Hence  the  neces- 
sity of  watching  for  the  very  beginnings  of  evil,  and 
promptly  checking  them. 

The  mind  should  be  thus  fortified  against  the  trifles 
and  follies  of  fashionable  life.  It  should  be  elevated 
into  a  sphere  far  above  that  occupied  by  those  who  pass 
their  time  in  fashionable  drawing-rooms  in  silly  twad- 
dle, with  thrumming  a  piano,  with  listless  day-dream- 
ing or  in  the  gratification  of  perverted  tastes  and  de- 
praved instincts  in  any  other  of  the  ways  common  to 
fashionable  life. 


UNCHASTITY  267 


SOLITARY  VICE 

If  illicit  commerce  of  the  sexes  is  a  heinous  sin, 
self-pollution,  or  masturbation,  is  a  crime  doubly 
abominable.  As  a  sin  against  nature,  it  has  no  parallel 
except  in  sodomy  (see  Gen.  19:5;  Judges  19:22).  It' 
is  the  most  dangerous  of  all  sexual  abuses  because  the 
most  extensively  practiced.  The  vice  consists  in  an 
excitement  of  the  genital  organs  produced  otherwise 
than  in  the  natural  way.  It  is  known  by  the  terms, 
self-pollution,  self-abuse,  masturbation,  onanism,  ma- 
nustupration,  voluntary  pollution,  and  solitary  or  secret 
vice.  The  vice  is  the  more  extensive  because  there  are 
almost  no  bounds  to  its  indulgence.  Its  frequent  repe- 
tition fastens  it  upon  the  victim  with  a  fascination 
almost  irresistible.  It  may  be  begun  in  earliest  in- 
fancy, and  may  continue  through  life. 

Even  though  no  warning  may  have  been  given,  the 
transgressor  seems  to  know,  instinctively,  that  he  is 
committing  a  great  wrong,  for  he  carefully  hides  his 
practice  from  observation.  In  solitude  he  pollutes  him- 
self, and  with  his  own  hand  blights  all  his  prospects 
for  both  this  world  and  the  nexto  Even  after  being 
solemnly  warned,  he  will  often  continue  this  worse 
than  beastly  practice,  deliberately  forfeiting  his  right 
to  health  and  happiness  for  a  moment's  mad  sensuality. 

Alarming  Prevalence  of  the  Vice.— The  habit  is 
by  no  means  confined  to  boys ;  girls  also  indulge  in  it, 
though  it  is  to  be  hoped,  to  a  less  fearful  extent  than 
boys,  at  least  in  this  country.  A  Russian  physician, 
quoted  by  an  eminent  medical  professor  in  New  York, 
states  that  the  habit  is  universal  among  girls  in  Russia. 
It  seems  impossible  that  such  a  statement  should  be 


268  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 


credible ;  and  yet  we  have  not  seen  it  contradicted.  It 
is  more  than  probable  that  the  practice  is  far  more 
nearly  universal  everywhere  than  even  medical  men 
are  willing  to  admit.  Many  young  men  who  have  been 
addicted  to  the  vice,  have  in  their  confessions,  declared 
that  they  found  it  universal  in  the  schools  in  which 
they  learned  the  practice. 

The  extent  to  which  the  vice  is  practiced  by  an  in- 
dividual is  in  some  cases  appalling.  Three  or  four 
repetitions  of  the  act  daily  are  not  uncommon. 

In  a  case  which  came  under  the  author's  care  some 
time  ago,  that  of  a  young  woman,  the  vice  had  been 
practiced  ten  to  fourteen  times  daily  for  weeks  at  a 
*  time.  The  patient  had  become  a  bed-ridden  invalid, 
and  was  reduced  to  the  most  wretched  condition  phys- 
ically and  mentally;  and  it  was  only  by  the  most  ear- 
nest and  persistent  effort  that  she  was  rescued  from  the 
miserable  state  into  which  she  had  fallen. 

Testimony  of  Eminent  Authors.— Says  a  med- 
ical writer,  ''In  my  opinion,  neither  the  plague,  nor 
war,  nor  smallpox,  nor  similar  diseases,  have  produced 
results  so  disastrous  to  humanity  as  the  pernicious 
habit  of  Onanism ;  it  is  the  destroying  element  of  civil- 
ized societies,  which  is  constantly  in  action,  and  gradu- 
ally undermines  the  health  of  a  nation," 

''The  sin  of  self-pollution,  which  is  generally  con- 
sidered to  be  that  of  Onan,  is  one  of  the  most  destruc- 
tive evils  ever  practiced  by  fallen  man.  In  many  re- 
spects it  is  several  degrees  worse  than  common  whore- 
dom, and  has  in  its  train  more  awful  consequences, 
though  practiced  by  numbers  who  would  shudder  at 
the  thought  of  criminal  connection  with  a  prostitute. ' '  * 

"However  revolting  to  the  feelings  it  may  be  to 

*  Dr,"  Adam  Clarke. 


UNCHASTITY  269 


enter  upon  such  a  subject,  it  cannot  be  passed  over  in 
silence  without  a  great  violation  of  duty.  Unhappily, 
it  has  not  been  hitherto  exhibited  in  the  awful  light  in 
which  it  deserves  to  be  shown.  The  tvorst  of  it  is  that 
it  is  seldom  suspected.  There  are  many  pale  faces 
and  languid,  nervous  feelings  attributed  to  other  causes 
when  all  the  mischief  lies  here. ' '  * 

.  We  scarcely  need  add  further  evidence  of  the  fear- 
ful extent  of  this  evil,  but  will  conclude  with  the  fol- 
lowing : 

*'The  pernicious  and  debasing  practice  of  mastur- 
bation is  a  more  common  and  extensive  evil  with  youth 
of  both  sexes  than  is  usually  supposed."  "A  great 
number  of  the  evils  which  come  upon  the  youth  at  and 
after  the  age  of  puberty,  arise  from  masturbation, 
persisted  in,  so  as  to  waste  the  vital  energies  and  ener- 
vate the  physical  and  mental  powers  of  man. "  ' '  Many 
of  the  weaknesses  commonly  attributed  to  growth  and 
the  changes  in  the  habit  by  the  important  transforma- 
tion from  adolescence  to  manhood,  are  justly  refer- 
able to  this  practice. ' '  f 

Not  a  Modern  Vice.— That  this  vice  is  not  entirely 
a  modern  one  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  in  many 
ancient  writings  directions  are  given  for  treating  its 
effects.  Even  Moses  seems  to  have  recognized  dis- 
orders of  this  class.  Hippocrates  and  others  devoted 
considerable  attention  to  them. 

Victims  of  All  Ages.— The  ages  at  which  the 
habit  may  be  practiced  include  almost  the  whole  extent 
of  human  life.  We  have  seen  it  in  infants  of  only 
three  or  four  years,  and  in  old  men  scarcely  less  than 
sixty,  in  both  extremes  marked  by  the  most  unmistak- 
able and  lamentable  consequences.     Cases  have  been 

*Sir  W.  C.  Ellis.  t  Boston  Medical  and  SurgicalJournal. 


270  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

noted  in  wliicli  the  practice  was  begun  as  early  as  two 
years  of  age.  It  is  common  among  African  boys  at 
nine  and  ten  years  of  age,  according  to  Dr.  Copland. 

Unsuspected  Wickedness.— Parents  wlio  have  no 
suspicion  of  the  evil,  who  think  their  children  the  em- 
bodiment of  purity,  will  find  by  careful  observation 
and  inquiry,— though  personal  testimony  cannot  be 
relied  upon,— that  in  many  instances  their  supposed 
virtuous  children  are  old  in  corruption.  Such  a  revela- 
tion has  brought  dismay  into  many  a  family,  in  some 
cases  only  too  late. 

Not  long  since  a  case  came  under  our  care  which 
well  illustrates  the  apathy  and  blindness  of  parents 
with  respect  to  this  subject.  The  parents  of  a  young 
man  whose  mind  seemed  to  be  somewhat  disordered, 
sent  word  to  us  through  a  friend  respecting  his  con- 
dition, asking  advice.  We  suspected  from  the  symp- 
toms described  the  real  cause  of  the  disease,  and  urged 
prompt  attention  to  the  case.  In  a  short  time  the  young 
man  was  placed  under  our  immediate  care  without  en- 
couragement of  a  cure,  and  we  gave  the  case  still  closer 
study.  The  characteristic  sjanptoms  of  disease  from 
self-abuse  were  marked,  but  the  father  was  positive 
that  no  influence  of  that  kind  could  have  been  at  work. 
He  had  watched  his  son  narrowly  from  infancy,  and 
did  not  believe  it  possible  for  him  to  have  been  guilty. 
In  addition,  the  young  man  had  long  been  remarkable 
for  his  piety,  and  he  did  not  believe  there  could  be 
any  possibility  of  his  being  guilty  of  so  gross  a  crime. 

A  short  time  sufficed,  however,  to  secure  the  indis- 
putable evidence  of  the  fact  by  his  being  caught  in 
the  act  by  his  nurse. 

This  young  man  was  a  sad  example  of  what  havoc 
is  made  with  the  ''human  form  divine"  by  this  debas- 


UNCHASTITY  271 


ing  vice.  Once  a  bright  boy,  kind,  affectionate,  active, 
intelligent,  the  pride  of  a  loving  mother  and  the  hope 
of  a  doting  father,  his  mind  had  sunken  to  driveling 
idiocy.  His  vacant  stare  and  expressionless  counte- 
nance betokened  almost  complete  imbecility.  If  allowed 
to  do  so,  he  would  remain  for  hours  in  whatever  posi- 
tion his  last  movement  left  him.  If  his  hand  was 
raised,  it  remained  extended  until  placed  in  a  position 
of  rest  by  his  attendant.  Only  with  the  utmost  diffi- 
culty could  he  be  made  to  rise  in  the  morning,  to  eat, 
drink,  or  walk.  Only  by  great  efforts  could  he  be 
aroused  from  his  lethargy  sufficiently  to  answer  the 
most  simple  question.  The  instinctive  demands  of 
decency  in  regarding  the  calls  of  nature  were  not  re- 
spected. In  short,  the  distinguishing  mental  and  moral 
characteristics  of  a  human  being  were  almost  wholly 
obliterated,  leaving  but  a  physical  semblance  of  human- 
ity,—a  mind  completely  wrecked,  a  body  undergoing 
dissolution  while  yet  alive,  a  blasted  life,  no  hope  for 
this  world,  no  prospect  for  the  next.  In  the  insane 
asylums  of  the  country  may  be  seen  hundreds  of  these 
poor  victims  in  all  stages  of  physical  and  mental  de- 
moralization. 

Causes  of  the  Habit.— It  is  needless  to  recapitu- 
late all  the  causes  of  unchastity  which  have  previously 
been  quite  fully  dwelt  upon,  nearly  all  of  which  are 
predisposing  or  exciting  causes  of  solitary  as  well  as 
social  vice.  Sexual  precocity,  idleness,  pernicious  liter- 
ature, abnormal  sexual  passions,  exciting  and  irritat- 
ing food,  gluttony,  sedentary  employment,  libidinous 
pictures,  and  many  abnormal  conditions  of  life  are 
potent  causes  in  exciting  the  vile  practice;  but  by  far 
the  most  frequent  causes  are  evil  associations,  wicked 
or  ignorant  nurses,  and  local  disease,  or  abnormality. 


272  PLAIN    FACT8   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

These  latter  we  will  consider  more  particularly,  as  they 
have  not  been  so  fully  dwelt  upon  elsewhere. 

Evil  Associations.— A  child  may  have  been  reared 
with  the  greatest  care.  From  infancy  he  may  have 
been  carefully  shielded  from  all  pernicious  influences, 
so  that  at  the  age  of  ten  or  twelve,  when  he  is  for  the 
first  time  sent  to  school,  he  may  be  free  from  vice ;  but 
when  he  associates  with  his  fellow  students,  he  soon 
finds  them  practicing  a  habit  new  to  him,  and  being 
unwarned,  he  speedily  follows  their  filthy  example,  and 
quickly  becomes  fascinated  with  the  vice.  Thousands 
have  taken  their  first  lessons  in  this  debasing  habit  at 
school.  Teachers  and  scholars  testify  that  it  is  often 
practiced  even  in  school  hours,  almost  under  the  teach- 
er 's  eyes ;  but  where  the  infection  most  quickly  spreads 
is  in  the  sleeping  apartments,  where  more  than  one 
occupy  the  same  bed,  or  where  several  sleep  in  the 
same  room. 

Nothing  is  more  indispensable  to  purity  of  body 
and  of  morals  than  a  private  sleeping-room,  and  a 
single  bed  for  each  student.  Such  an  arrangement 
would  protect  the  youth  from  the  reception  of  much 
evil,  and  would  allow  an  opportunity  for  privacy  which 
every  young  man  or  youth  needs  for  his  spiritual  as 
well  as  physical  benefit.  Not  the  least  benefit  of  thQ 
latter  class  is  the  opportunity  for  a  thorough  cleansing 
of  the  whole  body  every  morning,  which  is  almost  as 
indispensable  to  purity  of  morals  as  to  cleanliness  of 
body.  The  same  suggestion  is  fully  as  applicable  to 
the  sleeping  arrangements  of  girls.  The  exceptional 
cases  in  which  this  plan  would  not  be  the  best  are  very 
few  indeed. 

Corruption  in  Schools.— Says  Dr.  Acton,  ''I  can- 
not venture  to  print  the  accounts  patients  have  given 


UNCHASTITY  273 

me  of  what  they  have  seen  or  even  been  drawn  into  at 
schools.  I  would  fain  hope  that  such  abominations  are 
things  of  the  past."  The  entrance  of  a  single  corrupt 
boy  into  a  school  which  may  have  been  previously  pure, 
—though  such  schools  must  be  extremely  rare,— will 
speedily  corrupt  almost  the  entire  membership.  The 
evil  infection  spreads  more  rapidly  than  the  contagion 
of  smallpox  or  yellow  fever,  and  it  is  scarcely  less 
fatal. 

This  danger  exists,  not  in  public  or  city  schools 
alone,  but  in  the  most  select  and  private  schools.  A 
father  who  had  kept  his  two  sons  under  the  care  of  a 
private  governess  for  several  years,  and  then  placed 
them  in  a  small  school  taught  by  a  lady,  and  composed 
of  a  few  small  children  from  the  most  select  families, 
was  greatly  astonished  when  informed  by  a  physician 
that  his  sons  showed  symptoms  of  the  effects  of  self- 
abuse.  He  was  totally  incredulous;  but  an  investiga- 
tion showed  that  they  had  already  practiced  the  vile 
habit  for  several  years,  having  learned  it  of  an  infan- 
tile schoolmate. 

We  were  acquainted  with  one  instance  in  which  a 
primary  school  in  a  secluded  and  select  community  was 
nearly  broken  up  by  the  introduction  of  this  vile  habit 
through  a  corrupt  student.  Many  a  watchful  teacher 
has  seen  the  light  of  growing  intelligence  suddenly  dim 
and  wane  in  the  eye  of  his  favorite  student  just  when 
he  was  giving  the  most  promise  of  developing  unusual 
talents  in  literature,  mathematics,  or  some  one  of  the 
natural  or  physical  sciences,  and  has  been  compelled 
to  watch  the  devastating  influence  of  this  deadly  upas- 
tree  that  often  claims  the  best  and  fairest  human  flow- 
ers as  its  \actims. 

Wicked  Nurses.— In  those  cases  in  which  the  habit 


274  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

is  acquired  at  a  very  early  age,  the  work  of  evil  is 
usually  wrought  by  the  nurse,  perhaps  through  igno- 
rance of  the  effects  of  the  habit.  Incredible  as  it  seems, 
it  is  proved  by  numerous  instances  that  it  is  not  an 
uncommon  habit  for  nurses  to  quiet  small  children  by 
handling  or  titillating  their  genital  organs.  They  find 
this  a  speedy  means  of  quieting  them,  and  resort  to  it 
regardless  or  ignorant  of  the  consequences. 

Professor  Lusk,  of  Bellevue  Hospital  College,  New 
York,  related  to  his  medical  class  in  our  hearing  a 
case  which  came  under  his  observation  in  which  all 
the  children  in  a  large  family  had  been  taught  the  habit 
by  a  wicked  nurse  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  them 
quiet  after  they  were  put  to  bed.  The  vileness  that 
would  lead  a  person  to  thus  rob  childhood  of  its  inno- 
cence, and  blast  its  prospects  for  this  life  and  the  next, 
is  base  enough  for  the  commission  of  almost  any  crime. 
Indeed,  the  crime  could  hardly  have  been  a  worse 
one  had  the  nurse  referred  to  in  the  above  ease 
in  cold  blood  cut  the  throats  of  those  innocent  chil- 
dren; perhaps  it  might  have  been  better  for  the 
children. 

If  occasional  bad  associations  will  work  an  immense 
damage  to  the  youthful  character,  what  terrible  injury 
may  be  wrought  by  an  agent  of  sin,  an  instructor  in 
vice,  who  is  within  the  household,  who  presides  in  the 
nursery,  and  exerts  a  constant  influence!  No  one  can 
estimate  it. 

Acton  remarks  on  this  point :  ' '  I  need  hardly  point 
out  how  very  dangerous  this  is.  There  seems  hardly 
any  limit  to  the  age  at  which  a  young  child  can  be  ini- 
tiated into  these  abominations,  or  to  the  depth  of 
degradation  to  which  it  may  fall  under  such  hideous 
teaching.     Books  treating  of  this  subject  are  unfor- 


UNCHASTITY  275 

tunately  too  full  of  accounts  of  the  habits  of  such  chil- 
dren.'* 

In  not  a  few  instances  the  "hired  man"  has  been 
the  means  of  communicating  to  innocent  little  boys  the 
infamous  knowledge  which,  fortunately,  they  had  not 
acquired  in  babyhood.  With  no  knowledge  of  the  evil 
they  are  committing,  they  begin  the  work  of  physical 
damnation  which  makes  a  hell  of  life,  and  leads  to 
endless  death. 

The  ''hired  girl"  is  often  an  equally  efficient  agent 
for  evil  in  the  instruction  of  little  girls  in  this  debasing 
vice.  Some  time  ago,  the  very  intelligent  parents  of  a 
bright  family  of  children  were  awakened  to  the  im- 
portance of  this  subject  by  the  perusal  of  the  first  edi- 
tion of  this  work,  and  upon  investigation  were  horri- 
fied to  find  that  their  oldest  child,  a  promising  daughter 
of  ten,  was  already  a  victim  to  the  vile  practice,  having 
been  initiated  by  a  ''hired  girl,"  After  using  in  vain 
every  means  he  could  bring  to  bear  upon  the  case, 
the  father  brought  her  to  us,  and  with  tears  in  his 
eyes  gave  his  story.  After  telling  of  his  unsuccessful 
attempts  to  effect  a  reform,  he  declared  that  he  would 
far  prefer  to  place  his  daughter  in  the  grave  than  to 
see  her  grow  up  a  wretched  victim  of  this  vice.  We 
were  most  happy  to  be  able,  after  a  few  weeks'  treat- 
ment, to  restore  her  to  her  parents,  as  we  hope,  per- 
manently reformed.  Not  a  few  such  cases  are  con- 
stantly coming  to  the  attention  of  physicians. 

Are  these  lines  perused  by  any  one  who  has  ever 
taught  another  this  vice  so  vile,  and  so  certainly  fol- 
lowed by  penalties  so  terrible,— penalties  not  upon  the 
instigator  but  upon  the  hapless  victim?  Let  such  a 
person  clothe  himself  in  sackcloth  and  ashes,  and  do 
penance  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.    The  only  way 


276  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

in  whicli  he  can  hope  to  atone,  even  in  some  small 
degree,  for  such  a  heinous  crime  is  by  doing  all 
in  his  power  to  warn  those  in  danger  against  this 
sin. 

Sending  children  very  early  to  bed  before  they  are 
weary,  *'to  get  them  out  of  the  way,"  or  for  punish- 
ment, is  a  grave  error,  as  this  may  give  rise  to  the 
vice.  Confining  children  alone  in  a  room  by  them- 
selves is  an  equally  reprehensible  practice,  as  it  favors 
the  commission  of  the  act,  at  least,  and  may  afford  a 
favorable  opportunity  for  its  discovery.  Allowing  chil- 
dren to  form  a  habit  of  seeking  solitude  is  an  evil  of 
the  same  nature. 

Local  Disease.— In  the  male,  a  tight  or  long  fore- 
skin is  a  frequent  cause  of  the  habit.  The  constant 
contact  of  the  prepuce  with  the  most  sensitive  part  of 
the  organ  increases  its  sensibility.  The  secretion  is 
retained  and  accumulates,  often  becoming  hardened. 
In  this  manner,  irritation  is  set  up,  which  occasions 
uncomfortable  feelings,  and  attracts  the  hands  to  the 
part.  Owing  to  the  great  degree  of  excitement  due  to 
irritation,  but  a  slight  provocation  is  necessary  to 
arouse  voluptuous  sensations,  and  then  the  terrible 
secret  is  revealed.  The  child  readily  discovers  how 
to  reproduce  the  same,  and  is  not  slow  to  commit 
a  frequent  repetition  of  the  act;  and  thus  the  habit 
is  formed. 

An  Illustrative  Case.— A  case  in  which  the  vice 
originated  in  this  manner  was  recently  under  the 
author's  observation.  The  patient  was  a  man  of  con- 
siderable intellectual  power  and  culture,  but  showed 
unmistakable  signs  of  his  early  indiscretion.  He 
stated  that  although  he  mingled  quite  freely  with  other 
boys  of  his  age,  he  obtained  no  knowledge  of  the  habit 


UNCHASTITY  277 


from  others.  He  often  heard  alhisions  which  he  did 
not  understand,  and  of  which  he  did  not,  fortunately, 
discover  the  meaning.  But  he  was  afflicted  with  con- 
genital phimosis,  the  prepuce  being  so  tight  that  re- 
traction was  impossible.  This,  together  with  a  blad- 
der irritation,— which  occasioned  nocturnal  inconti- 
nence of  urine,— constipation,  and  highly  seasoned 
food,  produced  so  much  local  irritation  as  to  occasion 
frequent  erections,  and  an  increased  secretion.  He 
soon  noticed  that  there  was  an  accumulation  of  hard- 
ened secretion  beneath  the  foreskin,  and  in  attempting 
to  remove  this,  he  accidentally  provoked  voluptuous 
sensations.  He  speedily  abandoned  himself  to  the  habit, 
often  repeating  it  several  times  a  day.  Beginning  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  he  continued  it  for  three  or 
four  years. 

Soon  after  acquiring  the  habit,  he  became  aware  of 
its  tendencies,  through  reading  books  upon  the  subject ; 
but  he  found  himself  so  completely  enslaved  that  refor- 
mation seemed  impossible.  One  resolution  to  reform 
after  another  was  formed,  only  to  be  speedily  broken. 
His  unwholesome  diet,  habitual  constipation,  and  es- 
pecially the  unfortunate  organic  difficulty  in  his  genital 
organs,  produced  an  almost  constant  priai^ism,  which 
was  only  relieved,  and  then  but  temporarily,  by  the  act 
of  pollution.  His  sedentary  habits  increased  the  diffi- 
culty to  an  extreme  degree. 

In  the  meantime,  his  constitution,  naturally  weak, 
was  being  gradually  undermined.  He  suffered  from 
constant  headache,  heart-burn,  pains  in  the  back  and 
limbs,  weakness  and  lassitude.  Yet  he  attributed  none 
of  these  ailments  to  the  true  cause.  After  the  lapse  of 
three  or  four  years  thus  spent,  and  after  repeated  inef- 
fectual attempts,  by  a  powerful  effort  of  the  will,  by 

17 


278  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

the  aid  of  prayer,  and  by  adopting  a  more  wholesome 
diet,  he  succeeded  in  getting  the  mastery  of  his  vice. 
But  the  local  difficulties  still  continued  in  a  great  de- 
gree, and  under  particularly  aggravated  circumstances 
occasioned  a  relapse  at  long  intervals.  After  a  time 
the  local  difficulties  grew  less,  and  enabled  him  to  gain 
a  complete  victory  over  the  habit,  though  the  result  of 
previous  sin  still  remained,  for  which  he  desired  treat- 
ment. 

This  case  will  serve  as  a  fair  illustration  of  many 
of  similar  character,  in  which  the  child  accidentally 
makes  the  discovery  which  leads  him  to  work  his  own 
ruin. 

Other  Physical  Causes.— Constipation,  piles,  irri- 
table bladder,  fissure  of  the  anus,  local  uncleanliness 
and  pruritis  of  the  genital  organs,  will  produce  the 
habit  in  both  males  and  females  in  the  manner  de- 
scribed. Sleeping  on  feather  beds  increases  the  local 
congestion,  and  thus  favors  the  exciting  influences  of 
all  the  above-named  causes.  It  may,  perhaps,  itself  be 
the  exciting  cause. 

We  once  treated  a  patient  who  was  affected  with 
stone  in  the  bladder,  and  who  asserted  that  the  con- 
stant irritation  which  he  suffered  in  the  end  of  the  penis 
was  only  relieved  by  friction.  This  might  readily  be 
the  cause  of  masturbation,  though  in  this  case  the  vice 
had  been  acquired  many  years  before,  and  was  still 
continued  in  spite  of  all  efforts  to  reform. 

Lying  upon  the  back  or  upon  the  abdomen  fre- 
quently leads  to  self-abuse,  by  provoking  sexual  excite- 
ment. Certain  kinds  of  exercise,  climbing  in  particular, 
have  been  attended  by  the  same  results.  It  is  said 
that  children  sometimes  experience  genital  excitement 
amounting  to  pleasure  as  the  result  of  whipping. 


UNCHASTITY  279 


The  author  has  met  only  two  cases  of  this  sort.  In 
one,  a  boy  acquired  the  habit  of  masturbation  through 
experiencing  voluptuous  sensations  while  climbing,  the 
ultimate  effect  of  which  was  an  obstinate  case  of  epi- 
lepsy. Another  lad  experienced  a  high  degree  of  sex- 
ual excitement  when  spanked  by  his  teacher ;  and  in  still 
another  case,  the  excitement  resulted  from  horseback- 
riding. 

Influence  of  Stimulants. —The  use  of  stimulants 
of  any  kind  is  a  fruitful  cause  of  the  vice.  The  influ- 
ence of  tobacco  is  so  strongly  shown  in  this  direction 
that  it  is  doubtful  if  there  can  be  found  a  boy  who  has 
attained  the  age  of  puberty,  and  has  acquired  the  habit 
of  using  tobacco,  who  is  not  also  addicted  to  this  vile 
practice.  Candies,  spices,  cinnamon,  cloves,  pepper- 
mint, and  all  strong  essences  powerfully  excite  the  gen- 
ital organs,  and  lead  to  the  same  result. 

It  should  be  further  added  that  there  is  evidence 
that  a  powerful  predisposition  to  this  vice  is  trans- 
mitted to  the  children  of  those  who  have  themselves 
been  guilty  of  it. 

Sexual  Perversion.— Dr.  Hammond  remarks  as 
follows  upon  this  point: 

''I  am  pursuaded  that  a  nervous  constitution  and 
excessive  nervous  susceptibility  going  on  to  debility, 
tend  to  induce  the  habit  of  'mental  masturbation,'  as 
well  as  both  natural  and  unnatural  excess  in  sexual 
indulgence.  The  strong,  the  phlegmatic,  the  healthy, 
the  well-balanced  temperaments— those  who  live  out- 
doors and  work  with  the  muscles  more  than  with  the 
mind— are  not  tormented  with  sexual  desire  to  the 
same  degree  or  in  the  same  way  as  the  hysterical,  the 
sensitive,  the  nervous— those  who  live  indoors  and  use 
mind  much  and  muscle  very  little.    Dr.  Boteler,  who 


280  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

has  had  much  experience  as  a  physician  among  the 
North  American  Indians,  tells  me  that  Indian  boys  do 
not  masturbate,  and  do  not,  as  a  rule,  in  most  of  the 
tribes,  commit  excesses  in  sexual  indulgence  prior  to 
marriage;  and  it  is  quite  safe  to  assume,  reasoning 
deductively  and  inductively  from  a  general  knowledge 
of  the  nervous,  from  observation  among  savages  and 
semi-savages,  among  the  negroes,  and  among  the  strong, 
healthy  farming  population  in  all  civilized  countries, 
that  those  who  live  outdoors  and  have  well-balanced 
constitutions  of  the  old-fashioned  sort,  are  not  annoyed 
by  sexual  desire  when  they  have  no  opportunities  for 
gratification,  nor  to  the  same  degree  as  the  delicate, 
finely  organized  lads  of  our  cities  and  of  the  higher 
civilization. ' ' 

Signs  of  Self-Abase.— The  net  which  this  vice 
weaves  around  its  victim  is  so  strong,  and  its  meshes 
are  so  elaborately  interwoven  with  all  his  thoughts,  his 
habits,  and  his  very  being,  when  it  has  been  long  in- 
dulged, that  it  is  important  to  be  able  to  detect  it  when 
first  acquired,  as  it  may  then  be  much  more  easily  over- 
come than  at  any  subsequent  period.  It  is  often  no 
easy  matter  to  do  this,  as  the  victim  will  resort  to  all 
manner  of  cunning  devices  to  hide  his  vice,  and  will 
not  scruple  to  falsify  concerning  it,  when  questioned. 
To  be  able  to  accomplish  this  successfully  requires  a 
careful  study,  first,  of  the  signs  by  which  those  who 
indulge  in  the  practice  may  be  known,  and,  secondly, 
of  the  habits  of  the  individuals. 

In  considering  the  subject,  it  will  be  found  that 
there  are  two  classes  of  signs,  as  follows: 

1.  Those  which  may  arouse  suspicion;  but  any  one 
of  which,  taken  singly,  would  not  be  an  evidence  of  the 
practice. 


UNCHASTITY  281 


2.  Those  wliich  may  be  regarded  as  positive.  Sev- 
eral suspicious  signs  together  may  constitute  a  positive 
sign.  Under  these  two  heads,  we  will  consider  the  signs 
of  this  vile  habit. 

It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  one  or  two 
suspicious  signs  are  not  evidence  of  the  disease.  It  is 
likewise  well  to  remember  that  the  habit  may  be  found 
where  least  looked  for,  and  where  one  would  have  a 
right  to  expect  perfect  purity.  Prejudice  must  be  al- 
lowed no  voice  upon  either  side.  A  writer  has  said  that 
every  young  person  under  puberty  ought  to  be  sus- 
pected of  the  disease.  We  can  hardly  indorse  this  re- 
mark in  full,  but  it  would  be  at  least  wise  for  every 
guardian  of  children  to  criticise  most  carefully  their 
habits  and  to  quickly  detect  the  first  indications  of  sin- 
ful practices.  Parents  must  not  think  that  their  chil- 
dren, at  least,  are  too  good  to  engage  in  such  sinful 
abuses.  It  is  most  probable  that  their  children  are  very 
like  those  of  their  neighbors ;  and  any  amount  of  natu- 
ral goodness  is  not  a  protection  against  this  insidious 
vice  when  it  presents  itself  as  a  harmless  pleasure  to 
the  unwarned  and  ignorant  child. 

Suspicious  Signs.— The  following  symptoms,  oc- 
curring in  the  mental  and  physical  character  and 
habits  of  a  child  or  young  ]3erson,  may  well  give  rise 
to  grave  suspicions  of  evil,  and  should  cause  par- 
ents or  guardians  to  be  on  the  alert  to  root  it  out  if 
possible : 

1.  General  debility,  coming  upon  a  previously 
healthy  child,  marked  by  emaciation,  weakness,  an  un- 
natural paleness,  colorless  lips  and  gums,  and  the  gen- 
eral symptoms  of  exliaustion,  when  it  cannot  be  traced 
to  any  other  legitimate  cause,  as  internal  disease, 
worms,  grief,  overwork,  poor  air  or  poor  food,  and 


282  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

when  it  is  not  speedily  removed  by  cliange  of  air  or 
appropriate  remedial  measures,  may  be  safely  attrib- 
uted to  solitary  vice,  no  matter  liow  far  above  natural 
suspicion  the  individual  may  be.  Mistakes  will  be  rare 
indeed  when  such  a  judgment  is  pronounced  under  the 
circumstances  named. 

2.  Early  symptoms  of  consumption,  or  what  are 
supposed  to  be  such,  as  cough  and  decrease  in  flesh, 
with  short  breathing  and  soreness  of  the  lungs  or  mus- 
cles of  the  chest,  are  often  solely  the  result  of  this  vice. 
That  such  is  the  case  may  be  considered  pretty  surely 
determined  if  physical  examination  of  the  lungs  reveals 
no  organic  disease  of  those  organs.  But  it  should  be 
remembered  that  solitary  vice  is  one  of  the  most  fre- 
quent causes  of  early  consumption.  Several  cases 
which  strikingly  prove  this  have  fallen  under  our  own 
observation. 

3.  Premature  and  defective  development  is  a  symp- 
tom closely  allied  to  the  two  preceding.  "When  it  can- 
not be  traced  to  such  natural  causes  as  overstudy,  over- 
work, lack  of  exercise,  and  other  influences  of  a  similar 
nature,  it  should  be  charged  to  self-abuse.  The  early 
exercise  of  the  genital  organs  hastens  the  attainment 
of  puberty  in  many  cases,  especially  when  the  habit  is 
acquired  early;  but  at  the  same  time  it  saps  the  vital 
energies  so  that  the  system  is  unable  to  manifest  that 
increased  energy  in  growth  and  development  which 
usually  occurs  at  this  period.  In  consequence,  the  body 
remains  small,  or  does  not  attain  that  development 
which  it  otherwise  would.  The  mind  is  dwarfed  as  well 
as  the  body.  Sometimes  the  mind  suffers  more  than  the 
body  in  lack  of  development,  and  sometimes  the  reverse 
is  true.  This  defective  development  is  shown  in  the 
physical  organization  of  males,  in  the  failure  of  the 


TJNCHASTITY  283 


voice  to  increase  in  volume  and  depth  of  tone  as  it 
should,  in  deficient  growth  of  the  beard  and  in  failure 
of  the  chest  to  become  full  and  the  shoulders  broad. 
The  mind  and  character  show  the  dwarfing  influence 
by  failure  to  develop  those  qualities  which  especially 
distinguish  a  noble  manhood.  In  the  female,  defective 
development  is  shown  by  menstrual  derangements,  by 
defective  growth  either  in  stature,  or  as  shown  in  un- 
natural slimness,  and  in  a  failure  to  develop  the  graces 
and  pleasing  character  which  should  distinguish  early 
womanhood.  Such  signs  deserve  careful  investigation ; 
for  they  can  only  result  from  some  powerfully  blighting 
influence. 

4.  Sudden  change  in  disposition  is  a  sign  which 
may  well  arouse  suspicion.  If  a  boy  who  has  previ- 
ously been  cheerful,  jDleasant,  dutiful,  and  gentle  sud- 
denly becomes  morose,  cross,  peevish,  irritable,  and  dis- 
obedient, be  sure  that  some  foul  influence  is  at  work  with 
him.  When  a  girl,  naturally  joyous,  happy,  confiding, 
and  amiable,  becomes  unaccountably  gloomy,  sad,  fret- 
ful, dissatisfied,  and  unconfiding,  be  certain  that  a  blight 
of  no  insignificant  character  is  resting  upon  her.  Make 
a  careful  study  of  the  habits  of  such  children;  and  if 
there  is  no  sudden  illness  to  account  for  the  change  in 
their  character,  it  need  not  require  long  deliberation  to 
arrive  at  the  true  cause;  for  it  will  rarely  be  found 
to  be  anything  other  than  solitary  indulgence. 

5.  Lassitude  is  as  unnatural  for  a  child  as  for  a 
young  kitten.  A  healthy  child  will  be  active,  playful, 
full  of  life  and  animal  spirits.  If  a  young  child  mani- 
fests indisposition  to  activity,  a  dislike  for  play,  life- 
lessness,  and  languor,  suspect  his  habits,  if  there  is  no 
other  reasonable  cause  to  which  to  attribute  his  unnatu- 
ral want  of  childish  sprightliness, 


284  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

6.  In  connection  with  the  preceding  symptom  will 
generally  be  found,  instead  of  that  natural  brilliancy  of 
expression  in  the  eyes  and  countenance,  an  unnatural 
dullness  and  vacantness  altogether  foreign  to  child- 
hood.   This  is  a  just  ground  for  suspicion. 

7.  Sleeplessness  is  another  symptom  of  significance. 
Sound  sleep  is  natural  for  childhood;  and  if  sleepless- 
ness be  not  occasioned  by  dietetic  errors,  as  eating  indi- 
gestible food,  eating  between  meals,  or  eating  late 
suppers,  it  may  justly  be  a  cause  for  susj^icion  of  evil 
habits. 

8.  Failure  of  mental  capacity  without  apparent 
cause,  should  occasion  suspicion  of  evil  i^ractices. 
When  a  child  who  has  previously  learned  readily,  mas- 
tered his  lessons  easily,  and  possessed  a  retentive  mem- 
ory, shows  a  manifest  decline  in  these  directions,  fails 
to  get  his  lessons,  becomes  stupid,  forgetful,  and  inat- 
tentive, he  has  probably  become  the  victim  of  a  terrible 
vice,  and  is  on  the  road  to  speedy  mental  as  well  as 
physical  ruin.    Watch  him. 

9.  Ficldeness  is  another  evidence  of  the  working  of 
some  deteriorating  influence;  for  only  a  weak  mind  is 
fickle. 

10.  Untrustworthiness  appearing  in  a  child  should 
attract  attention  to  his  habits.  If  he  has  suddenly 
become  heedless,  listless,  and  forgetful,  so  that  he  can- 
not be  depended  upon,  though  previously  not  so,  lay 
the  blame  upon  solitary  indulgence.  This  vice  has  a 
wonderful  influence  in  developing  untruthfulness.  A 
child  previously  honest  will  soon  become  an  inveterate 
liar  under  its  baneful  influence. 

11.  Love  of  solitude  is  a  very  suspicious  sign.  Chil- 
dren are  naturally  sociable,  almost  without  exception. 
They  have  a  natural  dread  of  being  alone.     When  a 


UNCHASTITY  285 


child  habitually  seeks  seclusion  without  a  sufficient 
cause,  there  are  good  grounds  for  suspecting  him  of 
sinful  habits.  The  barn,  the  garret,  the  water-closet, 
and  sometimes  secluded  places  in  the  woods  are  favor- 
ite resorts  of  masturbators.  They  should  be  carefully 
followed  and  watched,  unobserved. 

12.  Bashf Illness  is  not  infrequently  dependent  upon 
this  cause.  It  would  be  far  from  right  to  say  that  every 
person  who  is  excessively  modest  or  timid  is  a  mastur- 
bator;  but  there  is  a  certain  timorousness  which  seems 
to  arise  from  a  sense  of  shame  or  fear  of  discovery  that 
many  victims  of  this  vice  exhibit,  and  which  may  be 
distinguished  from  natural  modesty  by  a  little  experi- 
ence. One  very  common  mode  of  manifestation  of  this 
timidity  is  the  inability  to  look  a  superior,  or  any  per- 
son who  is  esteemed  pure,  in  the  eye.  If  spoken  to, 
instead  of  looking  directly  at  the  iierson  to  whom  he 
addresses  an  answer,  the  masturbator  looks  to  one  side 
or  lets  his  eyes  fall  upon  the  ground,  seemingly  con- 
scious that  the  eye  is  a  wonderful  tell-tale  of  the  secrets 
of  the  mind. 

13.  Unnatural  boldness,  in  marked  contrast  with  the 
preceding  sign,  is  manifested  by  a  certain  class  of  vic- 
tims. It  can  be  as  easily  distinguished,  however,  as 
unnatural  timidity.  The  individual  seems  to  have  not 
the  slightest  appreciation  of  propriety.  He  commits 
openly  the  most  uncouth  acts,  if  he  does  not  manifest 
the  most  indecent  unchastity  of  manner.  When  spoken 
to,  he  stares  rudely  at  the  person  addressing  him,  often 
with  a  very  unpleasant  lear  upon  his  countenance.  In 
some  few  cases  there  seems  to  be  a  curious  combination 
of  conditions.  "W^iile  mentally  fearful,  timid,  and  hesi- 
tating, the  individual  finds  himself,  upon  addressing  a 
person,  staring  at  him  in  the  most  ungainly  manner. 


286  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

He  is  conscious  of  his  ill  manners,  but  is  powerless  to 
control  himself.  This  sign  is  one  which  could  hardly 
be  of  use  to  any  except  a  very  close  observer,  however, 
as  few  can  read  upon  the  countenance  the  operations 
of  the  mind. 

14.  Mock  piety— OY  perhaps  we  should  more  prop- 
erly designate  it  as  mistaken  piety— is  another  peculiar 
manifestation  of  the  effects  of  this  vicious  practice. 
The  victim  is  observed  to  become  transformed,  by  de- 
grees, from  a  romping,  laughing  child,  full  of  hilarity 

and  frolic,  to  a  sober  and  very  sedate  little 

Christian,  the  friends  think,  and  they  are  highly  grati- 
fied with  the  piety  of  the  child.  Little  do  they  suspect 
the  real  cause  of  the  solemn  face ;  not  the  slightest  sus- 
picion have  they  of  the  foul  orgies  practiced  by  the 
little  sinner.  By  the  aid  of  friends,  he  may  soon  add 
hypocrisy  to  his  other  crimes,  and  find  in  assumed  devo- 
tion a  ready  pretense  for  seeking  solitude.  Parents  will 
do  well  to  investigate  the  origin  of  this  kind  of  religion 
in  their  children. 

15.  Easily  frightened  children  are  abundant  among 
young  masturbators,  though  all  easily  frightened  per- 
sons are  not  vicious.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  the 
vice  greatly  exaggerates  natural  fear,  and  creates  an 
unnatural  apprehensiveness.  The  victim's  mind  is  con- 
stantly filled  with  vague  forebodings  of  evil.  He  often 
looks  behind  him,  looks  into  all  the  closets,  peeps  under 
the  bed,  and  is  constantly  expressing  fears  of  impend- 
ing evil.  Such  movements  are  the  result  of  a  diseased 
imagination,  and  they  may  justly  give  rise  to  suspicion. 

16.  Confusion  of  ideas  is  another  characteristic  of 
the  devotee  of  this  artful  vice.  If  he  attempts  to  argue, 
his  points  are  not  clearly  made.  He  may  be  super- 
ficially  quick   and   acute,   but   is   incapable    of   deep 


UNCHASTITY  287 


thought  or  abstruse  reasoning,  and  is  often  very  dull 
of  apprehension.  Ideas  are  not  presented  in  logical 
order,  but  seem  to  fall  out  promiscuously,  and  fairly 
represent  the  condition  of  a  disordered  brain.  At- 
tempts at  joking  are  generally  failures,  as  the  jest  is 
sure  to  be  inappropriate  or  vulgar,  and  no  one  but  him- 
self sees  any  occasion  for  laughter,  except  at  his  stu- 
pidity.    Such  individuals  are  not  scarce. 

17.  Boys  in  whom  the  habit  has  become  well  devel- 
oped sometimes  manifest  a  decided  aversion  to  the 
society  of  girls ;  but  this  is  not  nearly  so  often  the  case 
as  some  authors  seem  to  indicate.  It  would  rather  ap- 
pear that  the  opposite  is  more  often  true.  Girls  usually 
show  an  increasing  fondness  for  the  society  of  boys, 
and  are  very  prone  to  exhibit  marked  evidences  of  real 
wantonness. 

18.  Round  shoulders  and  a  stooping  posture  in  sit- 
ting are  characteristics  of  young  masturbators  of  both 
sexes.  Whenever  a  child  seats  himself,  the  head  and 
shoulders  droop  forward,  giving  to  the  spine  a  curved 
appearance. 

19.  Weak  hacks,  pains  in  the  limbs  and  stiffness  of 
the  joints,  in  children,  are  familiar  signs  of  the  habit. 
To  the  first  of  these  conditions  is  due  the  habitual  stoop- 
ing posture  assumed  by  these  children.  The  habit  re- 
ferred to  is  not  the  only  cause  of  these  conditions ;  but 
its  causative  occurrence  is  sufficiently  frequent  to  give 
it  no  small  importance  as  a  suspicious  indication. 

20.  Paralysis  of  the  lower  extremities,  coming  on 
without  apparent  cause,  is  not  infrequently  the  result 
of  solitary  indulgence,  even  in  very  small  children.  We 
have  seen  several  cases  in  which  this  condition  was 
traced  to  the  habit  of  masturbation,  in  children  under 
six  years  of  age. 


288  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

21.  The  gait  of  a  person  addicted  to  this  vice  will 
usually  betray  him  to  one  who  has  learned  to  distin- 
guish the  peculiarities  which  almost  always  mark  the 
walk  of  such  persons.  In  a  child,  a  dragging,  shuffling 
walk  is  to  be  suspected.  Boys,  in  walking  rapidly, 
show  none  of  that  elasticity  which  characterizes  a  nat- 
ural gait,  but  walk  as  if  they  had  been  stiffened  in  the 
hips,  and  as  though  their  legs  were  pegs  attached  to  the 
body  by  hinges.  The  girl  wriggles  along  in  a  style 
quite  as  characteristic,  though  more  difficult  to  detect 
with  certainty,  as  girls  are  often  so  ''affected"  in  their 
walk.  Unsteadiness  of  gait  is  an  evidence  seen  in  both 
sexes,  especially  in  advanced  cases. 

22.  Bad  positions  in  bed  are  evidences  which  should 
be  noticed.  If  a  child  lies  constantly  upon  its  abdo- 
men, or  is  often  found  with  its  hands  about  the  genitals, 
it  may  be  at  least  considered  in  a  fair  way  to  acquire 
the  habit,  if  it  has  not  already  done  so. 

23.  Lack  of  development  of  the  breasts  ii^  females, 
after  puberty,  is  a  common  result  of  self-pollution. 
Still,  it  would  be  entirely  unsafe  to  say  that  every 
female  with  small  mammary  glands  had  been  addicted 
to  this  vice,  especially  at  the  present  time,  when  a  fair 
natural  development  is  often  destroyed  by  the  constant 
pressure  and  heat  of  ''pads."  But  this  sign  may  well 
be  given  a  due  bearing. 

24.  Capricious  appetite  particularly  characterizes 
children  addicted  to  secret  vice.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  practice,  they  almost  invariably  manifest 
great  voracity  for  food,  gorging  themselves  in  the  most 
gluttonous  manner.  As  the  habit  becomes  fixed,  diges- 
tion becomes  impaired,  and  the  appetite  is  sometimes 
almost  wanting,  and  at  other  times  almost  unap- 
peasable. 


UNCHASTITY  289 


25.  One  very  constant  peculiarity  of  such  children 
is  their  extreme  fondness  for  unnatural,  hurtful,  and 
irritating  foods.  Nearly  all  are  greatly  attached  to 
salt,  pepper,  spices,  cinnamon,  cloves,  vinegar,  mus- 
tard, horseradish,  and  similar  articles,  and  use  them  in 
most  inordinate  quantities.  A  boy  or  girl  who  is  con- 
stantly eating  cloves  or  cinnamon  or  who  will  eat  salt 
in  quantities  without  other  food,  gives  good  occasion 
for  suspicion. 

26.  Eating  clay,  slate-pencils,  plaster,  chalk,  and 
other  indigestible  articles  is  a  practice  to  which  girls 
'who  abuse  themselves  are  especially  addicted.  The 
habit  sometimes  becomes  developed  to  such  a  wonder- 
ful extent  that  tlie  victims  almost  rival  the  clay-eaters 
of  the  Amazon  in  gratifying  their  propensity. 

27.  Disgust  for  simple  food  is  one  of  the  traits 
which  a  victim  of  this  vice  is  likely  to  possess.  He 
seems  to  loathe  any  food  which  is  not  rendered  hot  and 
stimulating  with  spices  and  other  condiments,  and  can- 
not be  induced  to  eat  it. 

28.  The  use  of  tobacco  is  good  presumptive  evi- 
dence that  a  boy  is  also  addicted  to  a  practice  still  more 
filthy.  Exceptions  to  this  rule  are  very  rare  indeed, 
if  they  exist,  which  we  somewhat  doubt.  The  same 
influences  which  would  lead  a  boy  to  the  use  of  tobacco 
would  also  lead  him  to  solitary  vice,  and  each  sin  would 
serve  to  exaggerate  the  other. 

29.  Unnatural  paleness  and  colorless  lips,  unless 
they  can  be  otherwise  accounted  for,  may  be  attributed 
to  secret  sin.  The  face  is  a  great  tell-tale  against  this 
class  of  sinners.  Justice  demands,  however,  that  an 
individual  should  be  given  the  benefit  of  a  doubt  so 
long  as  there  is  a  chance  for  the  production  of  these 


290  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

symptoms  by  any  other  known  cause,  as  overwork, 
mental  anxiety,  or  dyspepsia. 

30.  Acne,  or  pimples  on  the  face,  is  also  among  the 
suspicious  signs,  especially  when  it  appears  upon  the 
forehead  as  well  as  upon  other  portions  of  the  face. 
Occasional  pimples  upon  the  chin  are  very  common  in 
both  sexes  at  puberty  and  for  a  few  years  afterward, 
but  are  without  significance,  except  that  the  blood  may 
be  somewhat  gross  from  unwholesome  diet  or  lack  of 
exercise. 

31.  Biting  the  finger  nails  is  a  practice  very  com- 
mon in  girls  addicted  to  this  vice.  In  such  persons 
there  will  also  be  found,  not  infrequently,  slight  sore- 
ness or  ulceration  at  the  roots  of  the  nails,  and  warts, 
one  or  more,  upon  one  or  both  the  first  two  fingers  of 
the  hand,  usually  the  right. 

32.  The  eyes  often  betray  much.  If,  in  addition  to 
want  of  luster  and  natural  brilliancy,  they  are  sunken, 
present  red  edges,  are  somewhat  sore,  perhaps,  and  are 
surrounded  by  a  dark  ring,  the  patient,  especially  if  a 
child,  should  be  suspected  and  carefully  watched.  It 
should  be  observed,  however,  that  dyspepsia,  debility 
from  any  cause,  and  especially  loss  of  sleep  will  pro- 
duce some  or  all  of  these  signs,  and  no  one  should  be 
accused  of  the  vice  upon  the  evidence  of  these  indica- 
tions alone ;  neither  could  he  be  justly  suspected  so  long 
as  his  symptoms  could  be  accounted  for  by  legitimate 
causes. 

33.  A  habitually  moist,  cold  hand  is  a  suspicious 
circumstance  in  a  young  person  who  is  not  known  to  be 
suffering  from  some  constitutional  disease. 

34.  Palpitation  of  the  heart,  frequently  occurring, 
denotes  a  condition  of  nervous  disturbance  which  has 


UNCHASTITr  291 


some  powerful  cause,  and  wliich  may  often  be  found 
to  be  the  vice  in  question. 

35.  Hysteria  in  females  may  be  regarded  as  a  sus- 
picious circumstance  when  frequently  occurring  on 
very  slight  occasions,  and  especially  if  there  is  no 
hereditary  tendency  to  the  disease. 

36.  Chlorosis,  or  green  sickness,  is  very  often  caused 
by  the  unholy  practice  under  consideration.  It  is  very 
commonly  attributed,  when  occurring  in  young  women, 
to  menstrual  derangements ;  but  it  is  only  necessary  to 
remember  that  these  menstrual  irregularities  are  in 
many  cases  the  result  of  the  same  habit,  as  has  been 
already  pointed  out. 

37.  Epileptic  fits  in  children  are  not  infrequently 
the  result  of  vicious  habits. 

38.  Wetting  the  bed  is  an  evidence  of  irritation 
which  may  be  connected  with  the  practice ;  it  should  be 
looked  after. 

39.  Unchastity  of  speech  and  fondness  for  obscene 
stories  betray  a  condition  of  mind  which  does  not  often 
exist  in  youth  who  are  not  addicted  to  this  vice. 

As  previously  remarked,  no  single  one  of  the  above 
signs  should  be  considered  as  conclusive  evidence  of 
the  habit  in  any  individual ;  but  any  one  of  them  may 
and  should  arouse  suspicion  and  watchfulness.  If  the 
habit  really  exists,  but  a  short  time  will  elapse  before 
other  signs  will  be  noticed ;  and  when  several  point  in 
the  same  direction,  the  evidence  may  be  considered 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  conclusive.  But  persistent  watch- 
ing will  enable  the  positive  signs  to  be  detected  sooner 
or  later,  and  then  there  can  no  longer  be  doubt.  It 
is,  of  course,  necessary  to  give  the  individual  no  sus- 
picion that  he  is  being  watched,   as  that  would  put 


292  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

him  SO  effectually  on  his  guard  as,  possibly,  to 
defy   detection. 

Positive  Signs.— The  absolutely  positive  signs  of 
solitary  vice  are  very  few.  Of  course  the  most  cer- 
tainly positive  of  all  is  detection  in  the  act.  Some- 
times this  is  difficult,  with  such  consummate  cunning 
do  the  devotees  of  the  Moloch  pursue  their  debasing 
practice.  If  a  child  is  noticed  to  seek  a  certain  se- 
cluded spot  with  considerable  regularity,  he  should  be 
carefully  followed  and  secretly  watched,  for  several 
days  in  succession,  if  need  be.  Many  children  pursue 
the  practice  at  night  after  retiring.  If  the  suspected 
one  is  observed  to  become  very  quickly  quiet  after  re- 
tiring, and  when  looked  at,  appears  to  be  asleep,  the 
bedclothes  should  be  quickly  thrown  off  under  some 
pretense.  If,  in  the  case  of  a  boy,  the  penis  is  found 
in  a  state  of  erection,  with  the  hands  near  the  genitals, 
he  may  certainly  be  treated  as  a  masturbator  without 
any  error.  If  he  is  found  in  a  state  of  excitement, 
in  connection  with  the  other  evidences,  with  a  quick- 
ening circulation,  as  indicated  by  the  pulse,  or  in  a 
state  of  perspiration,  his  guilt  is  certain,  even  though 
he  may  i3retend  to  be  asleep;  no  doubt  he  has  been 
addicted  to  the  vice  for  a  considerable  time  to  have 
acquired  so  much  cunning.  If  the  same  course  is  pur- 
sued with  girls,  under  the  same  circumstances,  the  cli- 
toris will  be  found  congested,  with  the  other  genital 
organs,  which  will  also  be  moist  from  increased  secre- 
tion. Other  conditions  will  be  as  nearly  as  possible  the 
same  as  those  in  the  boy. 

Stains  upon  the  nightshirt  or  sheets,  occurring  be- 
fore puberty,  are  certain  evidences  of  the  vice  in  boys, 
as  they  are  subject,  before  that  time,  to  no  discharge 
which  will  leave  a  stain  resembling  that  from  the  sem- 


UNCHASTITY  293 


inal  fluid,  except  the  rare  one  from  piles.  In  the  very 
young,  these  stains  do  not  occur;  but  when  the  habit 
is  acquired  before  puberty,  a  discharge  resembling 
semen  takes  place  before  the  ordinary  period.  Of 
course,  the  stains  from  urine  will  be  easily  distin- 
guished from  otherSo  The  frequent  occurrence  of  such 
stains  after  puberty  is  a  suspicious  circumstance.  A 
discharge  in  some  respects  similar  may  occur  in  girls. 

Before  puberty,  the  effect  of  the  vice  upon  the  gen- 
ital organs  is  to  cause  an  unnatural  development,  in 
both  sexes,  of  the  sensitive  portions.  When  this  is 
marked,  it  is  pretty  conclusive  evidence  of  the  vice.  In 
girls,  the  vagina  often  becomes  unnaturally  enlarged, 
and  leucorrhea  is  often  present.  After  puberty,  the 
organs  in  males  often  diminish  in  size  and  become 
unnaturally  lax  and  shrunken. 

All  these  signs  should  be  thoroughly  mastered  by 
those  who  have  children  under  their  care,  and  if  not 
continually  watching  for  them,  which  would  be  an  un- 
pleasant task,  such  should  be  on  the  alert  to  detect 
the  signs  at  once  when  they  appear,  and  then  carefully 
seek  for  others  until  there  is  no  longer  any  doubt  about 
the  case. 


RESULTS  OF  SECRET  VICE 

The  physician  rarely  meets  more  forlorn  objects 
than  the  victims  of  prolonged  self-abuse.  These  un- 
fortunate beings  he  meets  every  day  of  his  life,  and 
listens  so  often  to  the  same  story  of  shameful  abuse 
and  retributive  suffering,  that  he  dreads  to  hear  it 
repeated.  In  these  cases,  there  is  usually  a  horrid 
sameness— the  same  cause,  the  same  inevitable  results. 

18 


294  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

In  most  cases,  the  patient  need  not  ntter  a  word;  for 
the  physician  can  read  in  his  countenance  his  whole 
history,  as  can  most  other  people  at  all  conversant  with 
the  subject. 

In  order  to  secure  the  greatest  completeness  con- 
sistent with  necessary  brevity,  we  will  describe  the  ef- 
fects observed  in  males  and  those  in  females  under 
separate  heads,  noticing  the  symptoms  of  each  mc'^bid 
condition  in  connection  with  its  description. 

EFFECTS    IN    MALES. 

We  shall  describe,  first,  the  local  effects,  then  the 
general  effects,  physical  and  mental. 

Local  Effects.— Excitement  of  the  genital  organs 
produces  the  most  intense  congestion.  No  other  organs 
of  the  body  are  capable  of  such  rapid  and  enormous 
engorgement.  When  the  act  is  frequently  repeated, 
this  condition  becomes  permanent  in  some  of  the  tis- 
sues, particularly  in  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the 
urethra.  This  same  membrane  continues  into,  and  lines 
throughout,  the  bladder,  kidneys,  and  all  the  urinary 
organs,  together  with  the  vesiculae  seminales,  the  ejacu- 
latory  ducts,  the  vasa  def erentia,  and  the  testes.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  continuity  of  tissue,  any  irritation  af- 
fecting one  part  is  liable  to  extend  to  another,  or  to  all 
the  rest.  We  mention  this  anatomical  fact  here  as  a 
help  to  the  understanding  of  the  different  morbid  con- 
ditions which  will  be  noticed. 

Urethral  Irritation.  —The  chronic  congestion  of 
the  urethra  after  a  time  becomes  chronic  irritability. 
The  tissue  is  unusually  sensitive,  this  condition  being 
often  indicated  by  a  slight  smarting  in  urination.  It 
often  extends  throughout  the  whole  length  of  the  ure- 


UNCHASTITY  295 


thra,  and  becomes  so  intense  that  the  passage  of  a 
sound,  which  would  occasion  little  if  any  sensation  in  a 
healthy  organ,  produces  the  most  acute  pain,  as  we 
have  observed  in  numerous  instances,  even  when  the 
greatest  care  was  used  in  the  introduction  of  the  instru- 
ment. 

Shooting  pains  are  often  felt  in  the  organ,  due  to 
this  irritation.  The  pain  is  of  a  smarting  character, 
and  is  in  some  cases  most  felt  at  the  root,  in  others, 
at  the  head.  It  often  darts  from  one  point  to  another. 
Just  before  and  just  after  urination  the  pain  is  most 
severe. 

Stricture. —Long-continued  irritation  of  the  mu- 
cous membrane  of  the  urethra  produces,  ultimately, 
inflammation  and  swelling  of  the  same  in  some  portion 
of  its  extent.  This  condition  may  become  permanent, 
and  then  constitutes  real  stricture,  a  most  serious  dis- 
ease. More  often  the  swelling  is  but  transient,  being 
due  to  some  unusual  excess,  and  will  subside.  Some- 
times, also,  a  temporary  stricture  is  produced  by  spas- 
modic contraction  of  the  muscular  fibers  surrounding 
the  urethra,  which  is  excited  by  the  local  irritation. 
This  kind  of  stricture  is  often  met  in  the  treatment  of 
spermatorrhea. 

Enlarged  Prostate.— This  painful  aifection  is  a 
frequent  result  of  the  chronic  irritation  in  the  ure- 
thra, which  the  gland  surrounds,  the  morbid  action 
being  communicated  to  it  by  its  proximity.  A  diseased 
action  is  set  up,  which  results  in  enlargement  and 
hardening.  It  is  felt  as  a  hard  body  just  anterior  to 
the  anus,  and  becomes  by  pressure  the  source  of  much 
additional  mischief.  Sometimes  the  disease  progresses 
to  dangerous  ulceration.    It  is  attended  by  heat,  pres- 


296  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

sure,  and  pain  between  the  anus  and  the  root  of  the 
penis. 

Permanent  enlargement  of  the  prostate  is  a  very 
serious  matter,  since  it  interferes  with  the  proper  dis- 
charge of  urine  from  the  bladder,  which  ultimately 
leads  to  disease  of  the  bladder  itself,  and  may  result 
even  in  death.  This  condition  is  the  result  of  other 
forms  of  sexual  excess  as  well  as  self -abuse. 

Urinary  Diseases.— The  same  congestion  and  irri- 
tability extend  to  the  bladder  and  thence  to  the  kid- 
neys, producing  irritation  and  inflammation  of  those 
organs.  Mucus  is  often  formed  in  large  quantities; 
sometimes  much  is  retained  in  the  bladder.  Earthy 
matter  is  deposited,  which  becomes  entangled  in 
the  mucus,  and  thus  a  concretion,  or  stone,  is 
produced,  occasioning  much  suffering,  and  perhaps 
death. 

We  saw,  not  long  since,  a  case  of  this  kind.  The 
patient  was  nearly  sixty  years  of  age,  and  had  prac- 
ticed masturbation  from  childhood.  In  consequence 
of  his  vice,  a  chronic  irritation  of  the  urethra  had  been 
produced,  which  was  followed  by  enlargement  of  the 
prostate,  then  by  chronic  irritation  of  the  bladder,  and 
the  formation  of  stone.  His  sufferings  were  most  ex- 
cruciating whenever  he  attempted  to  urinate,  which 
was  only  accomplished  with  the  greatest  difficulty  and 
suffering. 

One  of  the  unpleasant  results  of  irritation  of  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  bladder  is  inability  to  retain 
the  urine  long,  which  requires  frequent  urination,  and 
often  causes  incontinence  of  urine. 

Priapism.— This  same  morbid  sensitiveness  may 
produce  priapism,  or  continuous  and  painful  erection, 
one  of  the  most  ' '  terrible  and  humiliating  conditions, '  * 


UNCHASTITY  297 

as  Dr.  Acton  says,  to  which  the  human  body  is  subject. 
The  horrid  desperation  of  patients  suffering  under  this 
condition  is  ahnost  inconceivable.  It  is  fortunately 
rare  in  its  most  severe  forms ;  but  hundreds  suffer  from 
it  to  a  most  painful  degree  as  one  of  the  punishments 
of  the  transgression  of  nature's  laws;  and  a  most  ter- 
rible punishment  it  is. 

Piles,  Prolapsus  of  Rectum,  Etc.— As  the  result 
of  the  straining  caused  by  stricture,  piles,  prolapsus 
of  the  rectum  and  fissure  of  the  anus  are  not  infre- 
quently induced,  as  the  following  case  observed  at 
Charity  Hospital,  New  York,  illustrates: 

The  patient  had  a  peculiar  deformity  of  the  genital 
organs,  hypospadias,  which  prevented  sexual  inter- 
course, in  consequence  of  which  he  gave  himself  up  to 
the  practice  of  self-abuse.  He  had  become  reduced  to 
the  most  deplorable  condition  of  both  mind  and  body, 
and  presented  a  most  woe-begone  countenance.  In 
addition  to  his  general  ailments,  he  suffered  from  ex- 
treme prolapsus  of  the  rectum  and  a  most  painful  anal 
fissure.  His  condition  was  somewhat  bettered  by  skil- 
ful surgical  treatment. 

Extension  of  Irritation.— Serious  and  painful  as 
are  the  affections  already  noticed,  those  which  arise 
from  the  extension  of  the  congestion  and  irritation  of 
the  urethra  to  those  other  organs  most  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  function  of  generation,  are  still  more 
dreadful  to  themselves,  and  far  more  serious  in  their 
consequences.  The  irritation  extends  into  the  ejacu- 
latory  ducts,  thence  backward  into  the  seminal  vesicles 
and  downward  through  the  vasa  deferentia  to  the  tes- 
tes. These  organs  become  unnaturally  excited,  and 
their  activity  is  increased.  The  testicles  form  an  ab- 
normal amount  of  spermatozoa;  the  seminal  vesicles 


298  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

secrete  their  peculiar  fluid  too  freely.  Frora  these  two 
sources  combined  the  vesicles  become  loaded  with  sem- 
inal fluid,  and  this  condition  gives  rise  to  a  great  in- 
crease of  sexual  excitement. 

In  cases  of  long  standing,  the  irritation  of  the  ure- 
thra at  the  openings  of  the  ejaculatory  ducts,  a  point 
just  in  front  of  the  bladder,  advances  to  inflammation 
and  ulceration.  Here  is  now  established  a  permanent 
source  of  irritation,  by  which  the  morbid  activity  of 
the  testes  and  seminal  vesicles  is  kept  up  and  continu- 
ally increased.  This  condition  is  indicated  by  frequent 
twitching  of  the  ejaculatory  and  compressor  muscles 
in  the  perineum.  It  is  also  indicated  by  a  burning  sen- 
sation at  the  root  of  the  penis  after  urination,  which, 
in  severe  cases,  amounts  to  very  serious  pain. 

Atrophy,  or  Wasting  of  the  Testes.— The  first 
result  of  the  irritation  communicated  to  the  testes,  is, 
as  already  remarked,  increased  activity;  but  this  is 
attended  by  swelling  in  some  cases,  more  or  less  pain, 
tenderness,  and  after  a  time  diminution  in  size. 

This  degenerative  process  likewise  affects  the  sem- 
inal fluid,  which  becomes  more  or  less  deteriorated  and 
incapable  of  producing  healthy  offspring,  even  while 
it  retains  the  power  of  fecundating  the  ovum,  which  it 
also  ultimately  loses,  if  the  disease  is  not  checked  by 
proper  treatment,  when  the  individual  becomes  hope- 
lessly impotent,— a  happy  result  for  the  race;  for  it 
prevents  the  possibility  of  his  imparting  to  another 
being  his  debilitated  constitution. 

Varicocele.— This  morbid  condition  consists  in  a 
varicose  state  of  the  spermatic  veins.  It  is  almost  al- 
ways found  upon  the  left  side,  owing  to  an  anatomical 
peculiarity  of  the  spermatic  vein  of  that  side.  It  has 
been  supposed  to  be  a  result  of  masturbation  and  its 


TTlSrCHASTITY  299 


effects,  but  is  certainly  caused  otherwise  in  many  cases. 
It  is  not  infrequently  found  in  these  patients ;  but  Pro- 
fessor Bartholomew  contends  that  even  in  such  cases 
we  should  ''consider  its  presence,  in  general,  as  acci- 
dental." Atrophy  of  the  left  testicle  is  often  produced 
by  the  pressure  of  the  distended  veins;  but  this  does 
not  certainly  occasion  impotence.  It  sometimes  occurs 
simultaneously  on  both  sides,  and  certainly  greatly  ag- 
gravates the  effects  of  self -abuse,  if  it  is  not  itself  an 
effect  of  the  vice. 

Nocturnal  Emissions.— Seminal  emissions  during 
sleep,  usually  accompanied  by  erotic  dreams,  are  known 
as  nocturnal  pollutions  or  emissions,  and  are  often 
called  spermatorrhea,  though  there  is  some  disagree- 
ment respecting  the  use  of  the  latter  term.  Its  most 
proper  use  is  when  applied  to  the  entire  group  of 
sjonptoms  which  accompany  involuntary  seminal 
losses. 

The  masturbator  knows  nothing  of  this  disease  so 
long  as  he  continues  his  vile  practice;  but  when  he 
resolves  to  reform,  and  ceases  to  defile  himself  volun- 
tarily, he  is  astonished  and  disgusted  to  find  that  the 
same  filthy  pollutions  occur  during  sleep  without  his 
voluntary  participation.  He  now  begins  to  see  some- 
thing of  the  ruin  he  has  wrought.  The  same  nightly 
loss  continues,  sometimes  being  repeated  several  times 
in  a  single  night,  to  his  infinite  mortification  and  cha- 
grin. He  hopes  the  difficulty  will  subside  of  itself, 
but  his  hope  is  vain;  unless  properly  treated,  it  will 
probably  continue  until  the  ruin  which  he  voluntarily 
began  is  completed. 

This  disease  is  the  result  of  sexual  excesses  of  any 
kind;  it  is  common  in  married  men  who  have  abused 
the  marriage  relation,  when  they  are  forced  to  tempo- 


300  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

rary  continence  from  any  cause.  It  also  occurs  in 
those  addicted  to  mental  uncliasity,  though  they  may 
be  physically  continent.  It  is  not  probable  that  it 
would  ever  occur  in  a  person  who  had  been  strictly  con- 
tinent, and  had  not  allowed  his  mind  to  dwell  upon 
libidinous  imaginations. 

Exciting  Causes.— The  exciting  causes  which  serve 
to  perpetuate  this  difficulty  are  chiefly  two;  viz.,  local 
irritation  and  lewd  thoughts. 

The  first  cause  is  usually  chiefly  located  in  the  ure- 
thra, and  especially  at  the  mouths  of  the  ejaculatory 
ducts.  Distention  of  the  seminal  vesicles,  with  a 
superabundance  of  seminal  fluid,  also  acts  as  a  source 
of  irritation.  Constipation,  worms,  and  piles  have 
an  irritating  influence,  which  is  often  very  seriously 
felt. 

Unchaste  thoughts  act  detrimentally  in  a  twofold 
way.  They  first  stimulate  the  activity  of  the  testes, 
thus  increasing  the  overloading  of  the  seminal  vesicles. 
Lascivious  thoughts  during  wakefulness  are  the  chief 
cause  of  lascivious  dreams. 

Emissions  do  not  usually  occur  during  the  sound- 
est sleep,  but  during  that  condition  which  may  be  char- 
acterized as  dozing,  which  is  most  often  indulged  early 
in  the  morning  after  the  soundest  sleep  is  passed.  This 
fact  has  an  important  bearing  upon  treatment,  as  will 
be  seen  hereafter. 

At  first,  the  emissions  are  always  accompanied  by 
dreams,  the  patient  usually  awaking  immediately  after- 
ward ;  but  after  a  time  they  take  place  without  dreams 
and  without  awaking  him,  and  are  unaccompanied  by 
sensation.  This  denotes  an  advanced  stage  of  the  com- 
plaint. 

Certain    circumstances    greatly    increase    the    fre- 


UNCHASTITY  301 


quency  of  the  emissions,  and  thus  hasten  the  injury 
which  they  are  certain  to  accomplish  if  not  checked; 
as  neglect  to  relieve  the  bladder  and  bowels  at  night, 
late  suppers,  stimulating  foods  and  drinks,  and  any- 
thing that  will  excite  the  genital  organs.  Of  all  causes, 
amorous  or  erotic  thoughts  are  the  most  powerful.  Tea 
and  coffee,  spices  and  other  condiments,  and  animal 
food  have  a  special  tendency  in  this  direction.  Certain 
positions  in  bed  also  serve  as  exciting  or  predisposing 
causes;  as  sleeping  upon  the  back  or  the  abdomen. 
Feather-beds  and  pillows  and  too  warm  covering  in 
bed  are  also  injurious  for  the  same  reason. 

In  frequency,  emissions  will  vary  in  different  per- 
sons, from  an  occasional  one  at  long  and  irregular 
intervals,  to  two  or  three  a  week  or  several— as  many 
as  four  in  one  case  we  have  met— in  a  single  night. 

The  immediate  effect  of  an  emission  will  depend 
upon  the  frequency  of  occurrence  and  the  condition 
of  the  individual.  If  very  infrequent,  and  occurring 
in  a  comparatively  robust  person,  after  the  seminal 
vesicles  have  become  distended  with  seminal  fluid,  the 
immediate  effect  of  an  emission  may  be  a  sensation  of 
temporary  relief.  This  circumstance  has  led  certain 
persons  to  suppose  that  emissions  are  natural  and  bene- 
ficial.   This  point  will  receive  attention  shortly. 

If  the  emissions  are  more  frequent,  or  if  they  occur 
in  a  person  of  a  naturally  feeble  constitution,  the  imme- 
diate effect  is  lassitude,  languor,  indisposition,  and  often 
inability  to  perform  severe  mental  or  jjhysical  labor, 
melancholy,  amounting  often  to  despair  and  even  lead- 
ing to  suicide,  and  an  exaggeration  of  local  irritation, 
and  of  all  the  morbid  conditions  to  be  noticed  under 
the  head  of  ' '  General  Effects. ' '  Headache,  indigestion, 
weakness  of  the  back  and  knees,  disturbed  circulation, 


302  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

dimness  of  vision,  and  loss  of  appetite  are  only  a  few 
of  these. 

Are  Occasional  Emissions  Necessary  or  Harm- 
less?—That  an  individual  may  suffer  for  years  an 
involuntary  seminal  loss  as  often  as  once  a  month  with- 
out apparently  suffering  very  great  injury,  seems  to 
be  a  settled  fact  with  physicians  of  extensive  experi- 
ence, and  is  well  confirmed  by  observation;  yet  there 
are  those  who  suffer  severely  from  losses  no  more  fre- 
quent than  this.  But  when  seminal  losses  occur  more 
frequently  than  once  a  month,  they  will  certainly  ulti- 
mate in  great  injury,  even  though  immediate  ill  effects 
are  not  noticed,  as  in  exceptional  cases  they  may  not  be. 
If  argument  is  necessary  to  sustain  this  position,  as 
it  hardly  seems  to  be,  we  would  refer  to  the  fact  that 
seminal  losses  rarely  occur  in  those  who  are,  and  al- 
ways have  been,  continent  both  mentally  and  phys- 
ically. They  occur  the  most  infrequently  in  those  who 
most  nearly  approach  the  standard  of  perfect  chas- 
tity; so  that  whenever  they  occur,  they  may  be  taken 
as  evidence  of  ill-health  or  some  form  of  sexual  excess. 
This  fact  clearly  shows  that  losses  of  this  kind  are  not 
natural. 

Emissions  Not  Necessary  to  Health.— If  it  be 
argued  than  an  occasional  emission  is  necessary  to  re- 
lieve the  overloaded  seminal  vesicles,  we  reply,  The 
same  argument  has  been  used  as  an  apology  for  un- 
chastity;  but  it  is  equally  worthless  in  both  instances. 
It  might  be  as  well  argued  that  vomiting  is  a  necessary 
physiological  and  healthful  act,  and  should  occur  with 
regularity,  because  a  person  may  so  overload  his  stom- 
ach as  to  make  the  act  necessary  as  a  remedial  measure. 
Vomiting  is  a  diseased  action,  a  pathological  process, 
and  is  occasioned  by  a  voluntary  transgression  of  the 


I7NCHASTITY  303 

individual.  Hence,  it  is  as  unnecessary  as  gluttony, 
and  must  be  wasteful  of  vitality,  even  though  rendered 
necessary  under  some  circumstances.  So  with  emis- 
sions. If  a  person  allows  his  mind  to  dwell  upon  un- 
chaste subjects,  indulges  in  erotic  dreams,  and  riots 
in  mental  lasciviousness,  he  may  render  an  emission 
almost  necessary  as  a  remedial  effort.  Nevertheless, 
he  will  suffer  from  the  loss  of  nervous  energy  just  the 
same  as  though  he  had  not,  by  his  own  concupis- 
cence, rendered  it  in  some  degree  necessary.  And  as 
it  would  have  been  infinitely  better  for  him  to  have 
retained  and  digested  food  in  his  stomach  instead  of 
ejecting  it,— provided  it  were  wholesome  food,— 
so  it  would  have  been  better  for  him  to  have  re- 
tained in  his  system  the  seminal  fluid,  which  would 
have  been  disposed  of  by  the  system,  and  probably 
utilized  to  very  great  advantage  in  the  repair  of  the 
tissues. 

Eminent  Testimony.— An  eminent  English  physi- 
cian. Dr.  Milton,  who  has  treated  many  thousands  of 
cases  of  this  disease,  remarks  in  a  work  upon  the  sub- 
ject as  follows: 

''Anything  beyond  one  emission  a  month  requires 
attention.  I  know  this  statement  has  been  impugned, 
but  I  am  quite  prepared  to  abide  by  it.  I  did  not  put 
it  forward  till  I  considered  I  had  quite  sufficient  evi- 
dence in  my  hands  to  justify  me  in  doing  so." 

"An  opinion  prevails,  as  most  of  my  readers  are 
aware,  among  medical  men,  that  a  few  emissions  in 
youth  do  good  instead  of  harm.  It  is  difficult  to  under- 
stand how  an  unnatural  evacuation  can  do  good,  except 
in  the  case  of  unnatural  congestion.  I  have,  however, 
convinced  myself  that  the  principle  is  wrong.  Lads 
never  really  feel  better  for  emissions;  they  very  often 


304  PLAIN    FACTS    FOK    OLD   AND   YOUNG 

feel  decidedly  worse.  Occasionally  they  may  fancy 
there  is  a  sense  of  relief,  but  it  is  very  much  the  same 
sort  of  relief  that  a  drunkard  feels  from  a  dram.  In 
early  life,  the  stomach  may  be  re^Deatedly  overloaded 
with  impunity;  but  I  suppose  few  would  contend  that 
overloading  was  therefore  good.  The  fact  is  that  emis- 
sions are  invariably  more  or  less  injurious ;  not  always 
visibly  so  in  youth,  nor  susceptible  of  being  assessed 
as  to  the  damage  inflicted  by  any  given  number  of  them, 
but  still  contributing  each  in  its  turn,  a  mite  toward 
the  exhaustion  and  debility  which  the  patient  will  one 
day  complain  of. ' ' 

Diurnal  Emissions.— As  the  disease  progresses, 
the  irritation  and  weakness  of  the  organs  become  so 
great  that  an  erection  and  emission  occur  upon  the 
slightest  sexual  excitement.  Mere  proximity  to  a  fe- 
male, or  the  thought  of  one,  will  be  sufficient  to  pro- 
duce a  pollution,  attended  by  voluptuous  sensations. 
But  after  a  time  the  organs  become  so  diseased  and 
irritable  that  the  slightest  mechanical  irritation,  as 
friction  of  the  clothing,  the  sitting  posture,  or  riding 
horseback  will  produce  a  discharge  which  may  or  may 
not  be  attended  by  sensation  of  any  kind.  Frequently, 
a  burning  or  more  or  less  painful  sensation  occurs. 
After  a  time,  erection  no  longer  takes  place.  Even 
straining  at  stool  will  produce  the  discharge,  or  vio- 
lent efforts  to  retain  the  feces  when  there  is  unnatural 
looseness. 

The  amount  of  the  discharge  may  vary  from  a  few 
drops  to  one  or  two  drams,  or  even  more.  The  charac- 
ter of  the  discharge  is  of  considerable  importance. 
When  it  occurs  under  the  circumstances  last  described, 
viz.,  without  erection  or  voluptuous  sensations,  it  may 
be  of  a  true  seminal  character,  or  it  may  contain  no 


UNCHASTITY  305 


spermatozoa.  This  point  can  be  determined  by  the 
microscope  alone.  The  discharge  is  the  result  of  sex- 
ual excitement  or  irritation,  nevertheless,  and  indicates 
a  most  deplorable  condition  of  the  genital  organs.  The 
patient  is  sometimes  unnecessarily  frightened  by  it, 
and  often  exaggerates  the  amount  of  the  losses,  and 
the  symptoms  arising  from  them.  However,  when  a 
single  nocturnal  emission  occasions  such  detrimental 
results,  what  must  be  the  effect  of  repeated  discharges 
occurring  several  times  a  day,  or  every  time  an  indi- 
vidual relieves  his  bowels,  urinates,  or  entertains  an 
unvirtuous  thought!  If  the  losses  were  always  semi- 
nal, the  work  of  ruin  would  soon  be  complete;  fortu- 
nately, those  discharges  which  are  the  most  frequent 
are  only  occasionally  of  a  true  seminal  character.  It 
is  not  so,  however,  as  has  been  claimed  by  some  writers, 
one  at  least,  that  they  are  never  seminal,  as  we  have 
proved  by  repeated  microscopic  examinations. 

Causes  of  Diurnal  Emissions.— The  causes  of 
these  discharges  are  spasmodic  action  of  the  muscles 
involved  in  ejaculation,  which  is  occasioned  by  local 
irritation,  and  pressure  upon  the  seminal  vesicles  by 
the  distended  rectum  or  bladder.  They  denote  a  con- 
dition of  debility  and  irritation  which  may  well  occa- 
sion grave  alarm. 

In  occasional  instances,  the  internal  irritation 
reaches  such  a  height  that  blood  is  discharged  with  the 
seminal  fluid. 

Spontaneous  ejaculation  as  the  result  of  a  depraved 
state  of  mind  is  not  infrequent  in  women  who  give 
themselves  up  to  evil  thoughts.  The  observations  of 
the  author  will  support  the  view  that  this  form  of  dis- 
ease is  more  frequent  in  women  than  in  men.  Women 
whose  sexual  organs  have  been  weakened  by  abuse  are 


306  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 


most  likely  to  suffer  in  this  way,  as  also  from  invol- 
untary ejaculation  occurring  at  night. 

Internal  Emissions.— As  the  disease  progresses, 
external  discharges  finally  cease,  in  some  cases,  or  par- 
tially so,  and  the  individual  is  encouraged  by  that  cir- 
cumstance to  think  that  he  is  recovering.  He  soon 
discovers  his  error,  however,  for  he  continues  to  droop, 
even  though  the  discharges  apparently  cease  altogether. 
This  seems  a  mystery  until  some  medical  friend  or  a 
medical  work  calls  his  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
discharges  now  occur  internally  instead  of  externally, 
the  seminal  fluid  passing  back  into  the  bladder,  and 
being  voided  with  the  urine,  a  microscopic  examination 
of  which  shows  the  presence  of  zoosperms. 

An  Important  Caution.— It  is  necessary,  how- 
ever, to  caution  the  reader  not  to  pronounce  every 
whitish  sediment  or  flocculent  matter  found  in  the  urine 
to  be  a  seminal  discharge,  for  the  great  majority  are 
of  a  different  character.  They  are  most  frequently 
simply  mucus  or  phosphates  from  the  bladder.  Sem- 
inal fluid  cannot  be  distinguished  from  mucus  by  any 
other  than  a  careful  microscopic  examination.  A 
microscope  of  good  quality,  and  capable  of  magnifying 
at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty  diameters,  is  required, 
together  with  considerable  skill  in  the  operator.  Quacks 
have  done  an  immense  amount  of  harm  by  frightening 
patients  into  the  belief  that  they  were  suifering  from 
discharges  of  this  kind,  when  there  was,  in  fact,  noth- 
ing more  than  a  copious  deposit  of  phosphates,  which 
is  not  at  all  infrequent  in  nervous  people,  especially 
after  eating. 

Wlien  the  condition  described  does  really  exist, 
however,  the  patient  cannot  make  too  much  haste  to 
put  himself  under  the  care  of  a  competent  physician 


UNCHASTITY  307 


for  treatment.  If  there  is  even  a  reasonable  suspicion 
that  it  may  exist,  he  should  have  his  urine  carefully 
examined  by  one  competent  to  criticise  it  intelligently. 

Spermatorrhea. —By  many  authors,  the  term  sper- 
matorrhea is  confined  entirely  to  this  stage  of  the 
disease.  It  is  said  that  in  many  cases  the  forcible 
interruption  of  ejaculation  has  been  the  cause  of  this 
unfortunate  condition.  Such  a  proceeding  is  certainly 
very  hazardous. 

One  more  caution  should  be  offered;  viz.,  that  the 
occasional  presence  of  spermatozoa  in  the  urine  is  not 
a  proof  of  the  existence  of  internal  emissions,  as  a  few 
zoosperms  may  be  left  in  the  urethra  after  a  volun- 
tary or  nocturnal  emission,  and  thus  find  their  way 
into  the  urine  as  it  is  discharged  from  the  bladder. 

Impotence.— In  the  progress  of  the  disease,  a  point 
is  finally  reached  when  the  victim  not  only  loses  all 
desire  for  the  natural  exercise  of  the  sexual  function, 
but  when  such  an  act  becomes  impossible.  This  condi- 
tion may  have  been  reached  even  before  all  the  pre- 
ceding symptoms  have  been  developed.  Ultimately,  it 
becomes  impossible  to  longer  practice  the  abominable 
vice  itself,  on  account  of  the  great  degeneration  and 
relaxation  of  the  organs.  The  approach  of  this  condi- 
tion is  indicated  by  increasing  loss  of  erectile  power, 
which  is  at  first  only  temporary,  but  afterward  becomes 
permanent.  Still  the  involuntary  discharges  continue, 
and  the  victim  sees  himself  gradually  sinking  lower 
and  lower  into  the  pit  which  his  own  hands  have  dug. 
The  misery  of  his  condition  is  unimaginable,— man- 
hood lost,  his  body  a  wreck,  and  death  staring  him  in 
the  face. 

This  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  local  effects  of  the 
horrid  vice  of  self -abuse.    The  description  has  not  been 


308  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

at  all  overdrawn.  We  have  yet  to  consider  the  general 
effects,  some  of  which  have  already  been  incidentally 
touched  upon  in  describing  nocturnal  emissions,  with 
their  immediate  results. 

General  Effects.  —The  many  serious  effects  which 
follow  the  habit  of  self-abuse,  in  addition  to  those  ter- 
rible local  maladies  already  described,  are  the  direct 
result  of  two  causes  in  the  male;  viz. 

1.  Nervous  exhaustion. 

2.  Loss  of  the  s(MTiinal  fluid. 

There  has  been  much  discussion  as  to  which  one 
of  these  was  the  cause  of  the  effects  observed  in  these 
cases.  Some  have  attributed  all  the  evil  to  one  cause, 
and  some  to  the  other.  That  the  loss  of  semen  is  not 
the  only  cause,  nor,  perhaps,  the  chief  source  of  injury, 
is  proved  by  the  fact  that  most  deplorable  effects  of 
the  vice  are  seen  in  children  before  puberty,  and  also 
in  females,  in  whom  no  seminal  discharge  nor  anything 
analogous  to  it  occurs^  In  these  cases,  it  is  the  nerv- 
ous shock  alone  which  works  the  evil. 

Again,  that  the  seminal  fluid  is  the  most  highly 
vitalized  of  all  the  fluids  of  the  body,  and  that  its  rapid 
production  is  at  the  expense  of  a  most  exliaustive  effort 
on  the  part  of  the  vital  forces,  is  well  attested  by  all 
physiologists. 

The  nervous  shock  accompanying  the  exercise  of 
the  sexual  organs,  either  natural  or  unnatural,  is  the 
most  profound  to  which  the  system  is  subject.  The 
whole  nervous  system  is  called  into  activity;  and  the 
effects  are  occasionally  so  strongly  felt  upon  a  weak- 
ened organism  that  death  results  in  the  very  act.  The 
subsequent  exhaustion  is  necessarily  proportionate  to 
the  excitement. 

It  need  not  be  surprising,  then,  that  the  effects  of 


UNCHASTITY  309 

the  frequent  operation  of  two  such  powerful  influences 
combined  should  be  so  terrible  as  they  are  found  to  be. 

General  Debility.— Nervous  exhaustion  and  the 
loss  of  the  vivifying  influence  of  the  seminal  fluid,  pro- 
duce extreme  mental  and  physical  debility,  which  in- 
creases as  the  habit  is  practiced,  and  is  continued  by 
involuntary  emissions  after  the  habit  ceases.  If  the 
patient's  habits  are  sedentary,  and  if  he  had  a  delicate 
constitution  at  the  start,  his  progress  toward  the  grave 
will  be  fearfully  rapid,  esj^ecially  if  the  habit  were 
acquired  young,  as  it  most  frequently  is  by  such  boys, 
they  being  generally  precocious.  Extreme  emaciation, 
sallow  or  blotched  skin,  sunken  eyes,  surrounded  by 
a  dark  or  blue  color,  general  weakness,  dullness,  weak 
back,  stupidity,  laziness,  or  indisposition  to  activity  of 
any  kind,  wandering  and  illy  defined  pains,  obscure 
and  often  terrible  sensations,  pain  in  back  and  limbs, 
sleeplessness,  and  a  train  of  morbid  symptoms  too  long 
to  mention  in  detail  attend  the  sufferers. 

Consumption. —It  is  well  recognized  by  experi- 
enced medical  men  that  this  vice  is  one  of  the  most 
frequent  causes  of  consumption.  At  least,  such  would 
seem  to  be  the  declaration  of  experience,  and  the  fol- 
lowing statistical  fact  adds  weight  to  the  conclusion: 

"Dr.  Smith  read  a  paper  before  a  learned  medical 
association  a  few  years  since,  in  which  he  pointed  out 
the  startling  fact  that  in  one  thousand  cases  of  con- 
sumption, five  hundred  and  eighteen  had  suffered  from 
some  form  of  sexual  abuse,  and  more  than  four  hun- 
dred had  been  addicted  to  masturbation,  or  suffered 
from  nocturnal  emissions."  * 

''Most  of  those  who  early  become  addicted  to  self- 
pollution  are  soon  afterward  the  subjects,  not  merely 
of  one  or  more  of  the  ailments  already  noticed,  but 

*  Acton.  19 


310  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

also  of  enlargements  of  the  lymphatic  and  other  glands, 
ultimately  of  tuhercular  deposits  in  the  lungs  and  other 
viscera,  or  of  scrofulous  disease  of  the  vertebrae  or 
bones,  or  of  other  structures,  more  especially  of  the 
joints."  * 

Many  young  men  waste  away  and  die  of  symptoms 
resembling  consumption,  which  are  solely  the  result 
of  the  loathsome  practice  of  self-abuse.  The  real  num- 
ber of  consumptives  whose  disease  originates  in  this 
manner  can  never  be  known. 

Dyspepsia.— Indigestion  is  frequently  one  of  the 
first  results.  Nervous  exhaustion  is  always  felt  by  the 
stomach  very  promptly.  When  dyspepsia  is  once  re- 
ally established,  it  reacts  upon  the  genital  organs,  in- 
creasing their  irritability  as  well  as  that  of  all  the  rest 
of  the  nervous  system.  Now  there  is  no  end  to  the  ills 
which  may  be  suffered;  for  an  impaired  digestion 
lays  the  system  open  to  the  inroads  of  almost  any  and 
every  malady. 

Heart  Disease.— Functional  disease  of  the  heart, 
indicated  by  excessive  palpitation  on  the  slightest  exer- 
tion, is  a  very  frequent  symptom.  Though  it  unfits  the 
individual  for  labor,  and  causes  him  much  suffering, 
he  would  be  fortunate  if  he  escaped  with  no  disease  of 
a  more  dangerous  character. 

Throat  Affections.  —There  is  no  doubt  that  many 
of  the  affections  of  the  throat  in  young  men,  and  older 
ones,  which  pass  under  the  name  of  "clergyman's  sore 
throat,"  are  the  direct  result  of  masturbation  and 
emissions. 

Dr.  Acton  cites  several  cases  in  proof  of  this,  and 
quotes  the  following  letter  from  a  young  clergyman: 

''When  I  began  the  practice  of  masturbation,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  I  was  in  the  habit  of  exercising  my 

*  Copland. 


UNCHASTITY  311 

voice  regularly.  The  first  part  in  which  I  felt  the  bad 
effects  of  that  habit  was  in  the  organs  of  articulation. 
After  the  act,  the  voice  wanted  tone,  and  there  was  a 
disagreeable  feeling  about  the  throat  which  made 
speaking  a  source  of  no  pleasure  to  me  as  it  had  been. 
By  and  by  it  became  painful  to  speak  after  the  act. 
This  arose  from  a  feeling  as  if  a  morbid  matter  was 
being  secreted  in  the  throat,  so  acrid  that  it  sent  tears 
to  the  eyes  when  speaking,  and  would  have  taken  away 
the  breath  if  not  swallowed.  This,  however,  passed 
away  in  a  day  or  two  after  the  act.  In  the  course  of 
years,  when  involuntary  emissions  began  to  impair  the 
constitution,  this  condition  became  permanent.  The 
throat  always  feels  very  delicate,  and  there  is  often 
such  irritability  in  it,  along  with  this  feeling  of  the 
secretion  of  morbid  matter,  as  to  make  it  impossible  to 
speak  without  swallowing  at  every  second  or  third 
word.  This  is  felt  even  in  conversation,  and  there  is  a 
great  disinclination  to  attempt  to  speak  at  all.  In  many 
instances,  in  which  the  throat  has  been  supposed  to 
give  way  from  other  causes,  I  have  known  this  to  be 
the  real  one.  May  it  not  be  that  the  general  irritation 
always  produced  by  the  habit  referred  to,  shows  itself 
also  in  this  organ,  and  more  fully  in  those  who  are 
required  habitually  to  exercise  it!" 

Nervous  Diseases.— There  is  no  end  to  the  nerv- 
ous affections  to  which  the  sufferer  from  this  vice  is 
subjected.  Headaches,  neuralgias,  symptoms  resem- 
bling hysteria,  sudden  alternations  of  heat  and  cold, 
irregular  flushing  of  the  face,  and  many  other  affec- 
tions, some  of  the  more  important  of  which  we  will 
mention  in  detail,  are  his  constant  companions. 

Epilepsy.— This  disease  has  been  traced  to  the  vile 
habit  under  consideration  in  so  many  cases  that  it  is 


312  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

now  very  certain  that  in  many  instances  this  is  its  ori- 
gin. It  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  those  who  have 
indulged  in  solitary  vice  or  any  other  form  of  sexual 
excess.  We  have  met  a  number  of  cases  in  which  the 
disease  was  due  to  this  cause. 

Failure  of  Special  Senses. —Dimness  of  vision, 
amaurosis,  spots  before  the  eyes,  with  other  forms  of 
ocular  weakness,  are  common  results  of  this  vice.  The 
same  degeneration  and  premature  failure  occur  in 
the  organs  of  hearing.  In  fact,  sensibility  of  all  the 
senses  becomes  in  some  measure  diminished  in  old 
cases. 

Spinal  Irritation. —Irritation  of  the  spinal  cord, 
with  its  resultant  evils,  is  one  of  the  most  common  of 
the  nervous  affections  originating  in  this  cause.  Ten- 
derness of  the  spine,  numerous  pains  in  the  limbs,  and 
spasmodic  twitching  of  the  muscles,  are  some  of  its 
results.  Paralysis,  partial  or  complete,  of  the  lower 
limbs,  and  even  of  the  whole  body,  is  not  a  rare  occur- 
rence. We  have  seen  a  number  of  cases  in  which  this 
was  well  marked.  Two  of  the  patients  were  small  boys 
who  began  to  excite  the  genital  organs  at  a  very  early 
age.  In  one,  the  paralytic  condition  was  complete  when 
he  was  held  erect.  The  head  fell  forward,  the  arms 
and  limbs  hung  down  helpless,  the  eyes  rolled  upward, 
and  the  saliva  dribbled  from  his  mouth.  When  lying 
flat  upon  his  back,  he  had  considerable  control  of  his 
limbs.  In  this  case,  a  condition  of  priapism  seems  to 
have  existed  almost  from  birth,  owing  to  congenital 
phimosis.  His  condition  was  somewhat  improved  by 
circumcision. 

In  another  case,  in  which  phimosis  also  existed, 
there  was  paralysis  of  a  few  of  the  muscles  of  the  leg, 
which  produced  clubfoot.    Circumcision  was  also  per- 


UNCHASTITY  313 


formed  in  this  case,  and  the  child  returned  in  a  few 
weeks  completely  cured,  without  any  other  application, 
though  it  had  previously  been  treated  in  a  great  variety 
of  ways  without  success,  all  the  usual  remedies  for 
clubfoot  proving  ineffectual.  Both  of  these  cases  ap- 
peared in  the  clinic  of  Dr.  Sayre  at  Bellevue  Hospital, 
and  were  operated  upon  by  him. 

A  few  years  ago,  we  observed  several  cases  of  spinal 
disease  which  could  be  traced  to  no  origin  but  mas- 
turbation. Two  patients  were  small  boys,  naturally 
quite  intelligent.  They  manifested  all  the  peculiarities 
of  locomotor  ataxia  in  older  persons,  walking  with  the 
characteristic  gait.  The  disease  was  steadily  progress- 
ing in  spite  of  all  attempts  to  stay  it.  An  older  brother 
had  died  of  the  same  malady,  paralysis  extending  over 
the  whole  body,  and  finally  preventing  deglutition,  so 
that  he  really  starved  to  death. 

Insanity.— That  solitary  vice  is  one  of  the  most 
common  causes  of  insanity,  is  a  fact  too  well  estab- 
lished to  need  demonstration  here.  Every  lunatic  asy- 
lum furnishes  numerous  illustrations  of  the  fact. 
''Authors  are  universally  agreed,  from  Galen  down  to 
the  present  day,  about  the  pernicious  influence  of  this 
enervating  indulgence,  and  its  strong  propensity  to 
generate  the  very  worst  and  most  formidable  kinds  of 
insanity.  It  has  frequently  been  known  to  occasion 
speedy  and  even  instant  insanity. ' '  * 

''Religious  insanity,"  so  called,  may  justly  be  at- 
tributed to  this  cause  in  a  great  proportion  of  cases. 
The  individual  is  conscience-smitten  in  view  of  his  hor- 
rid sins,  and  a  sense  of  his  terrible  condition— ruined 
for  both  worlds,  he  fears— goads  him  to  despair,  and 
his  weakened  intellect  fails,  reason  is  dethroned,  and 
he  becomes  a  hopeless  lunatic.    His  friends,  knowing 

*  Arnold, 


314  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

nothing  of  the  real  cause  of  his  mysterious  confessions 
of  terrible  sin,  think  him  overconscientious,  and  lay 
the  blame  of  his  insanity  upon  religion,  when  it  is 
solely  the  result  of  his  vicious  habits,  of  which  they 
are  ignorant. 

In  other  cases,  the  victim  falls  into  a  profound  mel- 
ancholy, from  which  nothing  can  divert  him.  He  never 
laughs;  does  not  even  smile.  He  becomes  more  and 
more  reserved  and  taciturn,  and  perhaps  ends  the  scene 
by  committing  suicide.  This  crime  is  not  at  all  uncom- 
mon with  those  who  have  gone  the  whole  length  of  the 
evil  road.  They  find  their  manhood  gone,  the  vice  in 
which  they  have  so  long  delighted  is  no  longer  pos- 
sible, and  in  desperation  they  put  an  end  to  the  mis- 
erable life  which  nature  might  end  in  a  few  months 
if  not  thus  violently  superseded. 

Idiocy.— If  the  practice  is  continued  uninterrupt- 
edly from  boyhood  to  manhood,  imbecility  and  idiocy 
are  the  result.  Demented  individuals  are  met  in  no 
small  numbers  in  hospitals  and  asylums,  and  out  of 
them  as  well,  who  owe  to  this  vice  their  awful  condi- 
tion. Plenty  of  the  half-witted  men  one  meets 
in  the  every-day  walks  of  life  have  destroyed  the 
better  half  of  their  understanding  by  this  wretched 
practice. 

A  Victim's  Mental  Condition  Pictured. — The 
mental  condition  of  a  victim  of  this  vice  cannot  be  bet- 
ter described  than  is  done  in  the  following  paragraphs 
by  one,  himself  a  victim,  though  few  of  these  unfor- 
tunate individuals  would  be  able  to  produce  so  accu- 
rate and  critical  a  portrait  of  themselves  as  is  here 
drawn  by  M.  Eosseau,  as  quoted  by  Mr.  Acton : 

''One  might  say  that  my  heart  and  my  mind  do  not 
belong  to  the  same  person.    My  feelings,  quicker  than 


TJNCHASTITY  315 


lightning,  fill  my  soul ;  but  instead  of  illuminating,  they 
burn  and  dazzle  me.  I  feel  everything;  I  see  nothing. 
I  am  excited,  but  stupid ;  I  cannot  think  except  in  cold 
blood.  The  wonderful  thing  is  that  I  have  sound 
enough  tact,  penetration,  even  finesse,  if  people  will 
wait  for  me.  I  make  excellent  impromptus  at  leisure ; 
but  at  the  moment  I  have  nothing  ready  to  say  or  do. 
I  should  converse  brilliantly  by  post,  as  they  say  the 
Spaniards  play  at  chess.  When  I  read  of  a  duke  of 
Savoy  who  turned  back  after  starting  on  his  journey 
to  say, '  In  your  teeth !  you  Paris  shop-keeper ! '  I  said, 
'That  is  like  me!'  " 

"But  not  only  is  it  a  labor  to  me  to  express,  but 
also  to  receive,  ideas.  I  have  studied  men,  and  I  think 
I  am  a  tolerably  good  observer;  yet  I  can  see  nothing 
of  what  I  do  see.  I  can  hardly  say  that  I  see  anything 
except  what  I  recall ;  I  have  no  power  of  mind  but  in 
my  recollection.  Of  all  that  is  said,  of  all  that  is  done, 
of  all  that  passes  in  my  presence,  I  feel  nothing,  I 
appreciate  nothing.  The  external  sign  is  all  that  strikes 
me.    But  after  a  while  it  all  comes  back  to  me," 

EFFECTS   IN    WOMEN. 

Local  Effects. —The  local  diseases  produced  by 
the  vice  in  females  are,  of  course,  of  a  different  nature 
from  those  seen  in  males,  on  account  of  the  difference 
in  organization.  They  arise,  however,  in  the  same  way, 
congestions  at  first  temporary,  ultimately  becoming 
permanent,  and  resulting  in  irritation  and  various  dis- 
orders. 

Leucorrhea.— The  results  of  congestion  first  ap- 
pear in  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the  vagina,  which 
is  also  injured  by  mechanical  irritation,  and  consists 
of  a  catarrhal  discharge  which  enervates  the  system. 


316  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

By  degrees  the  discharge  increases  in  quantity  and 
virulence,  extending  backward  until  it  reaches  the 
sensitive  womb. 

Contact  with  the  acrid,  irritating  secretions  of  the 
vagina  produces  soreness  of  the  fingers  at  the  roots  of 
the  nails,  and  also  frequently  causes  warts  upon  the 
fingerSo  Hence  the  value  of  these  signs,  as  previously 
mentioned. 

Uterine  Disease,— Congestion  of  the  womb  is  also 
produced  by  the  act  of  abuse ;  and  as  the  habit  is  con- 
tinued, it  also  becomes  permanent.  This  congestion, 
together  with  the  contact  of  the  acrid  vaginal  dis- 
charge, finally  produces  superficial  ulceration  or  abra- 
sion upon  the  neck  of  the  womb,  together  with  other 
diseases. 

Another  result  of  congestion  is  all  kinds  of  men- 
strual derangements  after  puberty,  the  occurrence  of 
which  epoch  is  hastened  by  the  habit. 

Prolapsus  and  various  displacements  are  produced 
in  addition  to  these  menstrual  irregularities.  The  most 
common  forms  of  displacement  resulting  from  self- 
abuse,  are  retroflexion  and  retroversion,  which  are  usu- 
ally accompanied  by  congestion  and  enlargement  of  the 
womb,  catarrh  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  womb,  and 
relaxation  of  the  vagina.  When  these  conditions  are 
present  in  a  young  woman,  together  with  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  labia  and  clitoris,  they  may  be  looked  upon 
as  positive  evidence  of  the  existence  of  the  habit.  After 
a  large  experience  in  this  class  of  cases,  in  which  an 
opinion  of  the  nature  of  the  case  has  been  based  upon 
the  symptoms  named,  the  author  has  never  found  such 
an  opinion  erroneous. 

Sterility. —Sterility,  dependent  on  a  total  loss  of 
sexual  desire  and  inability  to  participate  in  the  sexual 


UNCHASTITY  317 


act,  is  another  condition  which  is  declared  by  medical 
authors  to  be  most  commonly  due  to  previous  habits  of 
self-abuse.  In  consequence  of  overexcitement,  the  or- 
gans become  relaxed,  the  natural  tone  is  lost,  and  they 
become  so  much  depleted  that  they  are  unable  to  re- 
spond to  the  natural  stimulus,  and  the  sexual  act  is 
not  only  not  accompanied  by  sensation,  but  is  even 
attended  by  disgust  and  a  sense  of  extreme  exhaustion. 
Among  many  cases  of  this  sort  which  have  come  to  the 
notice  of  the  author,  in  only  one  or  two  has  he  been 
unable  to  trace  the  abnormal  conditions  to  the  practice 
of  self-abuse  in  early  life. 

Atrophy  of  Mammae,—  Closely  connected  with 
other  local  results  is  the  deficient  development  of  the 
breasts  when  the  vice  is  begun  before  or  at  puberty, 
and  atrophy  if  it  is  begun  or  continued  after  develop- 
ment has  occurred.  As  previously  remarked,  this  is 
not  the  sole  cause  of  small  mammge,  but  it  is  one  of 
the  great  causes. 

Pruritis,  or  Itching  Genitals.— This  is  an  affec- 
tion not  infrequent  in  these  subjects.  Continued  con- 
gestion produces  a  terrible  itching  of  the  genitals,  which 
increases  until  the  individual  is  in  a  state  of  actual 
frenzy,  and  the  disposition  to  manipulate  the  genitals 
becomes  irresistible,  and  is  indulged  even  in  the  pres-' 
ence  of  friends  or  strangers,  and  though  the  patient 
be  at  other  times  a  young  woman  of  exceptional  mod- 
esty. In  cases  of  this  kind,  marked  hypertrophy  of 
the  organ  of  greatest  sensibility  has  been  observed,  and 
in  some  cases  amputation  of  this  part  has  been  found 
the  only  cure. 

Nocturnal  Ejaculation  in  Females.— A  disorder 
analogous  to  nocturnal  emissions  in  the  male,  occurs  in 
females  who  have  been  addicted  to  this  vice.    An  erotic 


318  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND   YOUNG 

dream  is  accompanied  by  ejaculation,  wliich  is  followed 
on  the  succeeding  clay  by  all  the  unpleasant  symp- 
toms of  nervous  irritability,  headache,  backache,  etc., 
which  are  experienced  by  males  subject  to  seminal 
losses. 

General  Effects— The  general  effects  in  the  fe- 
male are  much  the  same  as  those  in  the  male.  Although 
women  suffer  no  seminal  loss,  they  suffer  the  debili- 
tating effects  of  leucorrhea,  which  is  in  some  degree 
injurious  in  the  same  manner  as  seminal  losses  in  the 
male.  But  in  females  the  greatest  injury  results  from 
the  nervous  exhaustion  which  follows  the  unnatural 
excitement.  Nervous  diseases  of  every  variety  are  de- 
veloped. Emaciation  and  debility  become  more  marked 
even  than  in  the  male,  and  the  worst  results  are  pro- 
duced sooner,  being  hastened  by  the  sedentary  habits 
of  these  females.  Insanity  is  more  frequently  devel- 
oped than  in  males. 

Spinal  irritation  is  so  frequent  a  result  that  a  recent 
surgical  author  has  said  that  ' '  spinal  irritation  in  girls 
and  women  is,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  due  to  self-abuse.* 

A  Common  Cause  of  Hysteria.— This,  too,  is  one 
of  the  most  frequent  causes  of  hysteria,  chorea,  and 
epilepsy  among  young  women,  though  not  often  recog- 
nized. 

A  writer,  quoted  several  times  before  in  this  work, 
remarks  as  follows: 

"This  is  not  a  matter  within  the  scope  of  general 
investigation;  truth  is  not  to  be  expected  from  its 
habitues;  parents  are  deceived  respecting  it,  believing 
rather  what  they  wish  than  what  they  fear^  Even  the 
physician  can  but  suspect,  till  time  develops  more  fully 
by  hysterias,  epilepsies,  spinal  irritations,  and  a  train 
of  symptoms  unmistakable  even  if  the  finally  extorted 

*  Davis. 


TJNCHASTITY  319 

confession  of  the  poor  victim  did  not  render  the  matter 
clear.  Marriage  does,  indeed,  often  arrest  this  final 
catastrophe,  and  thus  apparently  shifts  the  responsi- 
bility upon  other  shoulders,  and  to  the  '  injurious  effects 
of  early  marriages,'  to  the  'ills  of  maternity,'  are  as- 
cribed the  results  of  previous  personal  abuse. 

*'For  statistics  and  further  information  on  this  all- 
important  subject,  we  must  refer  the  reader  to  the  opin- 
ions of  physicians  who  have  the  charge  of  our  retreats 
for  the  insane,  lunatic  asylums,  and  the  like;  to  the 
discriminating  physicians  of  the  families  of  the  upper 
classes,— stimulated  alike  by  food,  drinks,  scenes  where 
ease  is  predominant,  where  indolence  is  the  habit,  and 
novel-reading  is  the  occupation,— for  further  particu- 
lars on  a  subject  here  but  barely  alluded  to."  * 

EFFECTS    UPON    OPFSPKING. 

If  sterility  does  not  result,  children  are  liable  to  be 
"delicate,  puny,  decrepit,  or  subject  to  various  con- 
genital maladies,  especially  of  the  nervous  system,  to 
idiocy  from  deficient  development  of  the  brain,  to  hy- 
drocephalus, to  epilepsy,  convulsions,  palsy.  The  scrof- 
ulous diathesis,  tubercular  and  glandular  maladies,  dis- 
eases of  the  vertebrje  and  of  the  joints,  softening  of 
the  central  portions  of  the  brain,  and  tuberculous  for- 
mations in  the  membranes,  palsy  and  convulsions, 
chorea,  inflammations  of  the  membranes  or  substance 
of  the  brain  or  spinal  cord,  and  numerous  other  af- 
fections to  which  infants  and  children  are  liable,  very 
commonly  result  from  the  practice  of  self -pollution  by 
either  of  the  parents  previous  to  marriage.  But  the 
evil  does  not  always  stop  at  this  epoch  of  existence;  it 
often  extends  throughout  the  life  of  the  offspring,  or 
it  appears  only  with  puberty  and  mature  age." 

*  Gardner. 


320  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD   AND   YOUNG 

Neglect  Dangerous.— Too  frequently,  the  victim 
of  self-abuse,  when  he  finds  himself  suffering  from 
the  first  results  of  his  sin,  neglects  to  adopt  any  meas- 
ures for  the  cure  of  the  disease.  Not  understanding 
its  inveterate  character,  he  labors  under  the  delusion 
that  it  will  cure  itself  in  time.  This  is  a  fatal  mistake. 
The  diseased  conditions  induced  by  this  vice  never  im- 
prove themselves.  Their  constant  tendency  is  to  in- 
crease in  virulence  and  inveteracy.  The  necessity  of 
taking  prompt  measures  for  relief  is  too  apparent  to 
need  especial  emphasis. 


TREATMENT  FOR  SELF-ABUSE,  AND  ITS 

EFFECTS 

After  having  duly  considered  the  causes  and  effects 
of  this  terrible  evil,  the  question  next  in  order  for  con- 
sideration is,  How  shall  it  be  cured?  When  a  person 
has,  through  ignorance  or  weakness,  brought  upon  him- 
self the  terrible  effects  described,  how  shall  he  find 
relief  from  his  ills,  if  restoration  is  possible?  To  the 
answer  of  these  inquiries,  most  of  the  remaining  pages 
of  this  work  will  be  devoted.  But  before  entering  upon 
a  description  of  methods  of  cure,  a  brief  consideration 
of  the  subject  of  prevention  of  the  habit  will  be  in 
order. 

PREVENTION   OF   SECRET  VICEo 

For  the  rising  generation,  those  yet  innocent  of  thoj 
evil  practices  so  abundant  in  this  age  of  sensuality > 
how  the  evil  habit  may  be  prevented  is  the  most  im- 
portant of  all  questions  connected  with  this  subjectc 


TTNCHASTITY  321 

This  topic  should  be  especially  interesting  to  parents  j 
for  even  those  who  are  themselves  sensual,  have  seen 
enough  of  the  evils  of  such  a  life  to  wish  that  their 
children  may  remain  pure.  There  are,  indeed,  rare 
exceptions  to  this  rule ;  for  we  sometimes  learn  of  par- 
ents who  have  deliberately  led  their  own  children  into 
vice,  as  though  they  desired  to  make  them  share  their 
shame  and  wretchedness» 

Cultivate  Chastity.  —  From  earliest  infancy,  all 
those  influences  and  agencies  which  cultivate  chastity, 
should  be  brought  into  active  exercise.  These  we  need 
not  repeat  here,  having  previously  dwelt  upon  them  so 
fully.  The  reader  is  recommended  to  re-peruse  the 
portion  of  the  work  devoted  to  this  subject,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  present  section.  If  parents  have  them- 
selves indulged  in  this  vice,  they  should  use  special 
care  that  all  the  generative  and  gestative  influences 
brought  to  bear  upon  their  children  are  the  purest  pos- 
sible, so  that  they  may  not  inherit  a  predisposition  to 
sin  in  this  direction. 

Special  care  should  be  exercised  to  avoid  corrupt 
servants  and  associates.  Every  servant  not  known  to 
be  pure  should  be  suspected  until  proof  of  innocence 
has  been  established.  They  should  be  especially  in- 
structed of  the  evil  arising  from  manipulation  of  the 
genitals,  even  in  infants,  as  they  may  do  immense  harm 
through  simple  ignorance. 

Timely  Warning.— But  in  spite  of  chaste  surround- 
ings and  all  other  favorable  circumstances,  if  the  child 
is  left  in  ignorance  of  his  danger,  he  may  yet  fall  a 
victim  to  the  devices  of  servants  or  corrupt  playmates, 
or  may  himself  make  a  fatal  discovery.  Hence  arises 
the  duty  of  warning  children  of  the  evil  before  the 
habit  has  been  formed.     This  is  a  duty  that  parents 


322  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

seldom  perform,  even  when  they  are  not  unaware  of 
the  danger.  They  in  some  way  convince  themselves 
that  their  children,  at  least,  are  pure,  even  if  others 
are  corrupt.  It  is  often  the  most  difficult  thing  in  the 
world  for  parents  to  comprehend  the  fact  that  their 
children  are  not  the  best  children  in  the  world,  perfect 
paragons  of  purity  and  innocence.  There  is  an  un- 
accountable and  unreasonable  delicacy  on  the  part  of 
parents  about  speaking  of  sexual  subjects  to  their  chil- 
dren. In  consequence,  their  young,  inquisitive  minds 
are  left  wholly  in  ignorance,  unless,  perchance,  they 
gain  information  from  some  vile  source. 

Objections  are  raised  against  talking  to  children  or 
young  persons  about  matters  in  any  degree  pertaining 
to  the  sexual  organs  or  functions.  Some  of  the  more 
important  of  them  are  considered  in  the  introduction 
to  this  work,  and  we  need  not  repeat  here. 

Early  Instruction.— The  little  one  should  be  taught 
from  earliest  infancy  to  abstain  from  handling  the  gen- 
itals, being  made  to  regard  it  as  a  very  improper  act. 
When  the  child  becomes  old  enough  to  understand  and 
reason,  he  may  be  further  informed  of  the  evil  conse- 
quences; then,  as  he  advances  in  years,  the  functions 
of  the  organs  may  be  explained  with  sufficient  fullness 
to  satisfy  his  natural  craving  for  knowledge. 

If  this  course  were  pursued,  how  many  might  be 
saved  from  ruin!  It  is,  of  course,  necessary  that  the 
parents  shall  themselves  be  acquainted  with  the  true 
functions  of  the  organs  before  they  attempt  to  teach 
any  one  else,  especially  children.  Many  parents  might 
receive  benefit  from  being  obliged  to  ''study  up;'*  for 
it  is  a  lamentable  fact,  the  ill  effects  of  which  are  every 
day  seen,  that  a  great  many  people  have  spent  a  very 
large  portion  of  their  lives  without  ever  ascertaining 


UNCHASTITY  323 


the  true  function  of  the  reproductive  organs,  though 
living  in  matrimony  for  many  years.  Some  of  the  con- 
sequences of  this  ignorance  have  been  portrayed  in 
previous  pages. 

* '  Oh !  why  did  not  some  kind  friend  tell  me  of  the 
harm  I  was  doing  myself!"  has  been  the  exclamation 
of  many  an  unfortunate  sufferer  from  this  vice.  A 
warning  voice  should  be  raised  to  save  those  who  are 
ignorantly  working  their  own  destruction.  Parents, 
teachers,  ministers,  all  who  have  access  to  the  youth, 
should  sound  the  note  of  alarm  in  their  ears,  that  if 
possible  they  may  be  saved  from  the  terrible  thraldom 
pictured  by  a  writer  in  the  following  lines: 

A  Dark  Picture.— "The  waters  have  gone  over 
me.  But,  could  I  be  heard  out  of  the  black  depths,  I 
would  cry  to  all  those  who  have  set  a  foot  in  the  peril- 
ous flood.  Could  the  youth  look  into  my  desolation, 
and  be  made  to  understand  what  a  dreary  thing  it  is 
when  a  man  shall  feel  himself  going  down  a  precipice 
with  open  eyes  and  passive  will— to  see  his  destruction 
and  have  no  power  to  stop  it,  and  yet  to  feel  it  all  the 
way  emanating  from  himself ;  to  perceive  all  goodness 
emptied  out  of  him,  and  yet  not  be  able  to  forget  a 
time  when  it  was  otherwise;  to  bear  about  with  him 
the  spectacle  of  his  own  self -ruin;  could  he  feel  the 
body  of  death  out  of  which  I  cry  hourly  with  feebler 
and  feebler  outcry  to  be  delivered." 

CURATIVE  TREATMENT  OF  THE  EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE. 

Wlien  the  habit  and  its  effects  are  of  very  short 
duration,  a  cure  is  very  readily  accomplished,  espe- 
cially in  the  cases  of  children  and  females,  as  in  them 
the  evils  begun  are  not  continued  in  the  form  of  in- 


324  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

voluntary  pollutions.  In  cases  of  longer  standing  in 
males,  the  task  is  more  difficult,  but  still  the  prospect 
of  recovery  is  very  favorable,  provided  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  patient  can  be  secured;  without  this,  little 
can  be  done.  But  in  these  cases,  the  patient  may  as 
well  be  told  at  the  outset  that  the  task  of  undoing  the 
evil  work  of  years  of  sin  is  no  easy  matter.  It  can 
only  be  accomplished  by  determined  effort,  by  steady 
perseverance  in  right  doing,  and  in  the  application  of 
necessary  remedies.  Those  who  have  long  practiced 
the  vice,  or  long  suffered  severely  from  its  effects, 
have  received  an  injury  which  will  inevitably  be  life- 
long to  a  greater  or  less  extent  in  spite  of  all  that  can 
be  done  for  them.  Yet  such  need  not  despair,  for  they 
may  receive  inestimable  benefit  by  the  prevention  of 
greater  damage,  which  they  are  sure  to  suffer  if  the 
disease  is  allowed  to  go  unchecked. 

Cure  of  the  Habit.  —The  preliminary  step  in 
treatment  is  always  to  cure  the  vice  itself  if  it  still  ex- 
ists. The  methods  adopted  for  this  purpose  must  differ 
according  to  the  age  of  the  individual  patient. 

In  children,  especially  those  who  have  recently  ac- 
quired the  habit,  it  can  be  broken  up  by  admonishing 
them  of  its  sinfulness,  and  portraying  in  vivid  colors 
its  terrible  results,  if  the  child  is  old  enough  to  com- 
prehend such  admonitions.  In  addition  to  faithful 
warnings,  the  attention  of  the  child  should  be  fully 
occupied  by  work,  study,  or  pleasant  recreation.  He 
should  not  be  left  alone  at  any  time  lest  he  yield  to 
temptation.  Work  is  an  excellent  remedy;  work  that 
will  really  make  him  very  tired,  so  that  when  he  goes 
to  bed  he  will  have  no  disposition  to  defile  himself.  It 
is  best  to  place  such  a  child  under  the  care  of  a  faithful 
person  of  older  years,  whose  special  duty  it  shall  be 


TJNCHASTITY  325 

to  watch  him  night  and  day  until  the  habit  is  thor- 
oughly overcome. 

In  younger  children,  with  whom  moral  considera- 
tions will  have  no  particular  weight,  other  devices  may 
be  used.  Bandaging  the  parts  has  been  practiced  with 
success.  Tying  the  hands  is  also  successful  in  some 
cases;  but  this  will  not  always  succeed,  for  they  will 
often  contrive  to  continue  the  habit  in  other  ways,  as 
by  working  the  limbs,  or  lying  upon  the  abdomen. 
Covering  the  organs  with  a  cage  has  been  practiced 
with  entire  success.  A  remedy  which  is  almost  always 
successful  in  small  boys  is  circumcision,  especially  when 
there  is  any  degree  of  phimosis.  The  operation  should 
be  performed  by  a  surgeon  without  administering  an 
anesthetic,  as  the  brief  pain  attending  the  operation 
will  have  a  salutary  effect  upon  the  mind,  especially  if 
it  be  connected  with  the  idea  of  punishment,  as  it  may 
well  be  in  some  cases.  The  soreness  which  continues 
for  several  weeks  interrupts  the  practice,  and  if  it  had 
not  previously  become  too  firmly  fijsed,  it  may  be  for- 
gotten and  not  resumed.  If  any  attempt  is  made  to 
watch  the  child,  he  should  be  so  carefully  surrounded 
by  vigilance  that  he  cannot  possibly  transgress  without 
detection.  If  he  is  only  partially  watched,  he  soon 
learns  to  elude  observation,  and  thus  the  effect  is  only 
to  make  him  cunning  in  his  vice. 

In  adults  or  youth  a  different  plan  must  be  pur- 
sued. In  these  cases,  moral  considerations,  and  the 
inevitable  consequences  to  health  of  body  and  mind, 
are  the  chief  infiuences  by  which  a  reform  is  to  be 
effected,  if  at  all.  These  considerations  may  be  urged 
with  all  possible  eloquence  and  earnestness,  but  should 
not  be  exaggerated.  The  truth  is  terrible  enough.  If 
there  are  any  special  influences  which  may  be  brought 
20  -         »  - 


326  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND   YOUNG 

to  bear  upon  a  particular  individual,—  and  there  al- 
ways will  be  something  of  this  sort,  owing  to  peculiar- 
ities of  temperament  or  circumstances,— these  should 
be  promptly  employed,  and  applied  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  secure  for  them  their  full  bearing. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  Archibald,  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Iowa  Asylum  for  Feeble-Minded  Chil- 
dren, we  have  become  acquainted  with  a  method  of 
treatment  of  this  disorder  which  is  applicable  in  re- 
fractory cases,  and  we  have  employed  it  with  entire 
satisfaction.  It  consists  in  the  application  of  one  or 
more  silver  sutures  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent  erec- 
tion. The  prepuce,  or  foreskin,  is  drawn  forward  over 
the  glans,  and  the  needle  to  which  the  wire  is  attached 
is  passed  through  from  one  side  to  the  other.  After 
drawing  the  wire  through,  the  ends  are  twisted  to- 
gether, and  cut  off  close.  It  is  now  impossible  for  an 
erection  to  occur,  and  the  slight  irritation  thus  pro- 
duced acts  as  a  most  powerful  means  of  overcoming 
the  disposition  to  resort  to  the  practice. 

In  females,  the  author  has  found  the  application  of 
pure  carbolic  acid  to  the  clitoris  an  excellent  means  of 
allaying  the  abnormal  excitement,  and  preventing  the 
recurrence  of  the  practice  in  those  whose  will-power 
has  become  so  weakened  that  the  patient  is  unable  to 
exercise  entire  self-control. 

The  worse  cases  among  young  women  are  those 
in  which  the  disease  has  advanced  so  far  that  erotic 
thoughts  are  attended  by  the  same  voluptuous  sensa- 
tions which  accompany  the  practice.  The  author  has 
met  many  cases  of  this  sort  in  young  women,  who  ac- 
knowledged that  the  sexual  orgasm  was  thus  produced, 
often  several  times  daily.  The  application  of  carbolic 
acid  in  the  manner  described  is  also  useful  in  these 


tJNCHASTITY  327 


cases  in  allaying  the  abnormal  excitement,  which  is  a 
frequent  provocation  of  the  practice  of  this  form  of 
mental  masturbation. 

But  after  all,  the  most  must  be  done  by  the  individ- 
ual himselfo  All  that  others  can  do  for  him  is  to 
surround  him  with  favoring  circumstances,  and  arouse 
him  to  proper  sense  of  his  real  condition  and  danger." 
If  this  can  be  thoroughly  accomplished,  there  is  much 
reason  to  hope;  but  if  the  individual  has  become  so 
lost  to  all  sense  of  purity,  all  aspirations  toward  purity, 
that  he  cannot  be  made  to  feel  the  need  of  reformation, 
his  case  is  hopeless. 

How  May  a  Person  Help  Himself  ?— The  follow- 
ing suggestions  will  be  found  useful  in  fighting  the 
battle  with  vice  and  habit: 

1.  Begin  by  a  resolution  to  reform,  strengthened  by 
the  most  solemn  vows. 

2.  Resolve  to  reform  noiv;  not  to-morrow  or  next 
week,  but  this  very  minute.  Thousands  have  sunk  to 
perdition  while  resolving  to  indulge  "only  this  once." 

3.  Begin  the  work  of  reform  by  purging  the  mind. 
If  a  lewd  thought  enters  the  mind,  dispel  it  at  once. 
Cultivate  a  loathing  for  concupiscence.  Never  harbor 
such  ideas  for  an  instant;  for  they  will  surely  lead  to 
the  overt  act.  If,  perchance,  the  physical  sin  should 
not  be  committed,  the  thought  itself  is  sin,  and  it  leaves 
a  physical  as  well  as  a  moral  scar  almost  as  deep  and 
hideous  as  that  inflicted  by  the  grosser  crime. 

4.  As  a  help  to  purity  of  mind,  whenever  impure 
thoughts  enter,  immediately  direct  the  mind  upon  the 
purest  object  with  which  you  are  acquainted.  Flee 
from  the  special  exciting  cause,  if  there  is  one,  and 
engage  in  some  active  labor  or  other  exercise  that  will 
divert  the  mind  into  another  channel. 


328  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

5.  Avoid  solitude;  for  then  it  is  that  temptation 
comes,  and  you  are  most  likely  to  fail.  Avoid,  equally, 
all  other  causes  which  may  lead  to  the  act. 

6.  Strictly  comply  with  all  the  rules  laid  down  for 
the  cultivation  of  chastity  and  the  maintenance  of  con- 
tinence. 

7.  Above  all,  seek  for  grace  and  help  from  the 
Source  of  all  spiritual  strength  in  every  time  of  tempta- 
tion, relying  upon  the  promise,  ''Seek,  and  ye  shall 
find." 

Hopeful  Courage.  —  An  individual  who  will  ear- 
nestly set  himself  about  the  work  of  purifying  his  mind 
and  redeeming  his  body,  if  he  will  conscientiously 
adopt,  and  perseveringly  apply,  the  remedies  pointed 
out,  may  he  sure  of  success.  There  can  be  no  possible 
chance  for  failure.  Triumph  is  certain.  Patience  may 
be  tried  and  faith  tested,  but  unwavering  trust  in  God 
and  nature,  and  an  executed  determination  to  do  all 
on  his  part,  will  bring  to  every  such  one  certain  re- 
covery. There  may  be  some  scars  left,  a  few  traces 
of  the  injury  wrought ;  but  the  deliverance  will  be  none 
the  less  triumphant.  Faith  and  perseverance  will  work 
wonders. 

General  Regimen  and  Treatment.  —  After  long 
abuse  of  the  sexual  organs,  and  in  many  cases  after  a 
short  course  of  sin,  the  whole  system  becomes  deterio- 
rated; digestion  is  impaired;  the  muscles  are  weak- 
ened ;  the  circulation  is  unbalanced ;  the  nerves  are  irri- 
table, the  brain— especially  the  back  and  lower  por- 
tion of  it— is  congested;  the  skin  is  torpid;  the  bowels 
are  inactive;  and  the  general  health  is  deranged  in 
almost  every  particular.  All  these  morbid  conditions 
serve  to  keep  up  the  very  difficulty  which  has  produced 
and  is  increasing  them.    Any  curative  effort,  then,  to 


TJNCHASTITY  329 


be  effective,  must  be  directed  to  these  as  well  as  to 
local  conditions;  and  it  is  pretty  certainly  established 
that  local  remedies  or  applications  alone  will  rarely 
accomplish  any  appreciable  good,  at  least  of  a  perma- 
nent character. 

Mental  and  Moral  Treatment.  —  The  greatest 
impediment  to  recovery  is  usually  found  in  the  mind 
of  the  patient.  His  hopeless  despair,  melancholy,  sul- 
len apathy  in  many  cases,  want  of  energy,  and  fickle- 
ness of  mind  thwart  all  attempts  that  are  made  for 
him.  In  other  cases,  the  want  of  will-power,  or  neglect 
to  exercise  the  will  in  controlling  the  thoughts,  com- 
pletely counteracts  all  that  can  be  done  for  him.  He 
must  be  made  to  understand  this  well,  and  then  all 
possible  means  must  be  employed  to  attract  his  atten- 
tion from  himself,  from  brooding  over  his  ills.  Occupy 
him,  interest  him,  or  teach  him  to  occupy  and  interest 
himself.  The  enthusiastic  study  of  some  one  of  the 
natural  sciences  is  a  most  excellent  auxiliary  in  affect- 
ing this. 

The  thing  of  first  importance  is  that  the  patient 
should  obtain  command  of  his  thoughts ;  by  this  means 
he  can  do  more  for  himself  than  all  others  can  do  for 
him.  "But  I  cannot  control  my  thoughts,"  says  the 
patient.  A  young  man  said  to  me,  "0  doctor,  you 
don't  know  how  I  feel.  I  despise  myself;  I  hate  my- 
self; I  often  feel  inclined  to  kill  myself.  My  mind  is 
always  full  of  abominable  images ;  my  thoughts  run 
away  with  me,  and  I  cannot  help  myself. ' '  The  tears 
ran  down  his  face  as  he  told  of  his  slavery.  He  sol- 
emnly affirmed  that  he  had  never  performed  the  act 
of  self-pollution  but  once  in  his  life ;  and  yet  for  years 
he  had  been  a  constant  sufferer  from  nocturnal  emis- 
sions until  his  manhood  was  nearly  lost,  evidently  the 


330  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOXTNG 

result  of  the  mental  Onanism  which  he  had  practiced 
without  imagining  the  possibility  of  harm. 

Control  of  the  Thoughts.  —  But  it  is  not  true 
that  control  of  the  thoughts  is  impossible.  Thoughts 
are  the  result  of  the  action  of  the  brain ;  and  the  action 
of  the  brain  may  be  controlled  as  well  as  the  movements 
of  a  voluntary  muscle.  It  may  be  more  difficult,  es- 
pecially when  the  resolution  is  weakened,  as  it  is  by 
this  vice;  but  so  long  as  there  are  left  any  remnants 
of  will  and  reason,  control  is  possible.  To  strengthen 
the  will  must  be  one  of  the  objects  of  mental  treatment, 
and  exercise  is  the  method  by  which  it  may  be  accom- 
plished. The  thing  for  a  sufferer  to  say  is  not  "I 
can't"  but  "I  can  and  I  will  control  my  thoughts." 
Suggestions  which  will  aid  in  accomplishing  this  have 
already  been  given  under  the  heading,  ^'Cure  of  the 
Habit." 

"We  cannot  forbear  to  add  a  word  further  respect- 
ing the  worth  of  religion  in  aiding  these  sufferers.  If 
there  is  any  living  creature  who  needs  the  help  of  true 
religion,  of  faith  in  God,  in  Christ,  and  in  the  efficacy 
of  prayer,  it  is  one  of  these.  If  there  is  any  poor  mortal 
who  cannot  afford  to  be  deprived  of  the  aid  of  a  sym- 
pathizing Saviour,  it  is  one  who  has  enervated  his  will, 
degraded  his  soul,  and  depraved  his  body  by  the  vile 
habit  of  self-abuse.  A  compassionate  Eedeemer  will 
succor  even  these  defiled  ones,  if  they  truly  ''hunger 
and  thirst"  after  purity,  and  if  they  set  about  the  work 
of  reforming  themselves  in  good  earnest,  and  with  right 
motives. 

Exercise.  —  Physical  exercise  is  a  most  powerful 
aid  to  pure  thoughts.  Wlien  unchaste  ideas  intrude, 
engage  at  once  in  something  which  will  demand  ener- 
getic muscular  exercise.     Pursue  the  effort  until  fa- 


332 


HERCULES 


UNCHASTITY  333 

tigued,  if  necessary,  making  all  tlie  while  a  powerful 
mental  effort  to  control  the  mind.  Of  course,  evil 
thoughts  will  not  be  expelled  by  thinking  of  them,  but 
by  displacing  them  by  pure  thoughts.  Exercise  aids 
this  greatly. 

Exercise  is  also  essential  to  balance  the  circulation, 
and  thus  relieve  congestion  of  internal  organs.  Seden- 
tary persons  especially  need  systematic  exercise.  No 
single  form  of  exercise  is  so  excellent  as  walking.  Four 
of  five  miles  a  day  are  none  too  many  to  secure  a 
proper  amount  of  muscular  exercise.  Gymnastics,  the 
''health-lift,"  "Indian  clubs,"  "dumb-bells,"  rowing, 
and  other  forms  of  exercise  are  all  good;  but  none  of 
them  should  be  carried  to  excess.  Ball-playing  is  likely 
to  be  made  a  source  of  injury  by  exciting,  in  vigorous 
competition,  too  violent  and  spasmodic  action. 

Daily  exercise  should  be  taken  to  the  extent  of  fa- 
tigue. It  is  better  that  those  who  are  still  strong 
enough  should  have  some  regular  employment  which 
will  secure  exercise.  Those  who  prefer  may  secure 
exercise  and  recreation  in  the  pursuit  of  some  study 
that  involves  necessary  physical  exertion;  as  botany, 
geology,  or  entomology.  The  collection  of  natural- 
history  specimens  is  one  of  the  most  pleasant  diver- 
sions, and  may  be  made  very  useful  as  well. 

Pleasant  companionship  is  essential  to  the  best 
progress  of  these  patients,  especially  in  their  walks, 
as  much  more  exercise  may  be  taken  without  an  un- 
pleasant sense  of  fatigue  with  a  cheerful  companion 
than  when  alone.  Solitude  should  be  avoided  at  all 
times  as  much  as  possible. 

Diet.  —So  much  has  already  been  said  upon  the 
relation  of  diet  to  chastity  and  its  influence  upon  the 
sexual  organs,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  add  many  re- 


334  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

marks  here.  Nothing  could  be  more  untrue  than  the 
statement  made  by  some  authors  that  the  nature  of 
the  diet  is  of  no  consequence. 

The  science  of  physiology  teaches  that  our  very 
thoughts  are  born  of  what  we  eat.  A  man  that  lives  on 
pork,  fine-flour  bread,  rich  pies  and  cakes,  and  condi- 
ments, drinks  tea  and  coffee,  and  uses  tobacco,  might 
as  well  try  to  fly  as  to  be  chaste  in  thought.  He  will 
accomplish  wonders  if  he  remains  physically  chaste; 
but  to  be  mentally  virtuous  would  be  impossible  for 
him  without  a  miracle  of  grace. 

One  whose  thoughts  have  been  so  long  trained  in 
the  filthy  ruts  of  vice  that  they  run  there  automatically, 
and  naturally  gravitate  downward— such  a  one  must 
exercise  especial  care  to  secure  the  most  simple,  pure, 
and  unstimulating  diet. 

The  following  precautions  are  necessary  to  be  ob- 
served in  relation  to  diet: 

1.  Never  overeat.  If  too  much  food  is  taken  at  one 
meal,  fast  the  next  meal  to  give  the  system  a  chance  to 
recover  itself,  and  to  serve  as  a  barrier  against  future 
transgressions  of  the  same  kind.  Gluttony  is  fatal  to 
chastity ;  and  overeating  will  be  certain  to  cause  emis- 
sions, with  other  evils,  in  one  whose  organs  are  weak- 
ened by  abuse. 

2.  Eat  hut  twice  a  day,  or,  if  supper  is  eaten,  let  it 
be  very  light,  and  of  the  most  simple  food,  as  fruit,  or 
fruit  and  bread.  Nothing  should  be  eaten  within  four 
or  five  hours  of  bedtime,  and  it  is  much  better  to  eat 
nothing  after  three  o'clock.  The  ancients  ate  but  two 
meals  a  day;  why  should  moderns  eat  three  or  four? 
If  the  stomach  contains  undigested  food,  the  sleep  will 
be  disturbed,  dreams  will  be  more  abundant,  and  emis- 
sions will  be  frequent.    A  most  imperative  rule  of  life 


IJNCHASTITy  335 


should  be,  "Never  go  to  bed  with  a  loaded  stomach." 
The  violation  of  this  rule  is  the  great  cause  of  dreams 
and  nightmares. 

3.  Discard  all  stimulating  food.  Under  this  head 
must  be  included  spices,  pepper,  ginger,  mustard,  cin- 
namon, cloves,  essences,  all  condiments,  pickles,  etc., 
together  with  flesh  food  in  any  but  moderate  quantities. 
It  is  hardly  to  be  expected  that  all  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  use  these  articles  all  their  lives,  will 
discard  them  wholly  at  once,  nor,  perhaps,  that  many 
will  ever  discard  them  entirely ;  but  it  would  be  better 
for  them  to  do  so,  nevertheless. 

4.  Stimidating  drinks  should  be  abstained  from 
with  still  greater  strictness.  Wine,  beer,  tea,  and  coffee 
should  be  taken  under  no  circumstances.  The  influ- 
ence of  coffee  in  stimulating  the  genital  organs  is  no- 
torious. Chocolate  should  be  discarded  also.  It  is 
recommended  by  some  who  suppose  it  to  be  harmless, 
being  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  it  contains  a  poison 
practically  identical  with  that  of  tea  and  coffee. 

Hot  drinks  of  all  kinds  should  be  avoided. 
Tobacco,  another  stimulant,  although  not  a  drink, 
should  be  totally  abandoned  at  once. 

5.  In  place  of  such  articles  as  have  been  condemned, 
eat  fruits,  grains,  milk,  and  vegetables.  There  is  a  rich 
variety  of  these  kinds  of  food,  and  they  are  wholesome 
and  unstimulating.  Graham  flour,  oatmeal,  and  ripe 
fruit  are  the  indispensables  of  a  dietary  for  those  who 
are  suffering  from  sexual  excesses. 

Further  remarks  upon  diet,  with  a  few  useful 
recipes  for  preparing  healthful  food,  will  be  found  in 
works  devoted  to  the  subject  of  diet.*  The  patient  must 
carefully  comply  with  all  the  rules  of  a  healthy  diet  if 
he  would  be  sure  of  recovery. 

*  '•  Science  in  the  Kitchen/'  by  Mrs.  E.  E,  Kellogg; 


336  PLAIlSr    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND   YOUNG 

Sleeping.— It  is  from  emissions  wliicli  happen  dur- 
ing sleep  that  the  great  majority  of  sufferers  complain; 
hence  there  is  no  little  importance  attaching  to  this 
subject.  The  following  suggestions  present  in  a  very 
brief  manner  some  of  the  more  practical  ideas  con- 
nected with  this  part  of  the  subject: 

1.  From  seven  to  nine  hours'  sleep  are  required  by 
all  persons.  The  rule  should  be,  Eetire  early,  and  sleep 
until  rested.  Early  rising  is  not  beneficial  unless  it 
has  been  preceded  by  abundant  sleep. 

2.  Arise  immediately  upon  waking  in  the  morning, 
if  it  is  after  four  o'clock.  A  second  nap  is  generally 
unref reshing,  and  is  dangerous,  for  emissions  most  fre- 
quently occur  at  this  time. 

3.  If  insufficient  sleep  is  taken  at  night,  sleep  a  few 
minutes  just  before  dinner.  Half  an  hour 's  rest  at  this 
time  is  remarkably  refreshing;  and  even  fifteen  min- 
utes spent  in  sleep  will  be  found  very  reviving.  Do 
not  sleep  after  dinner,  as  a  pollution  will  be  very  likely 
to  occur,  and,  as  a  rule,  after-dinner  naps  are  unre- 
freshing  and  productive  of  indigestion. 

4.  Never  go  to  bed  with  the  bowels  loaded.  The 
bladder  should  be  emptied  just  before  retiring.  It  is 
also  a  good  plan  to  form  the  habit  of  rising  once  or 
twice  during  the  night  to  urinate. 

5.  The  position  in  sleeping  is  of  some  importance. 
Sleeping  upon  the  back  or  upon  the  abdomen  favors 
the  occurrence  of  emissions;  hence  it  is  preferable  to 
sleep  on  the  side.  If  supper  has  been  taken,  the  right 
side  is  preferable,  as  that  position  will  favor  the  pas- 
sage of  food  from  the  stomach  into  the  intestines  in 
undergoing  digestion. 

Various  devices  are  employed,  sometimes  with  ad- 
vantage, to  prevent  the  patient  from  turning  upon  his 


UNCHASTITY  337 

back  while  asleep.  The  most  simple  is  that  recom- 
mended by  Acton,  and  consists  in  tying  a  knot  in  the 
middle  of  a  towel,  and  then  fastening  the  towel  about 
the  body  in  such  a  way  that  the  knot  will  come  upon 
the  small  of  the  back.  The  unpleasant  sensations  aris- 
ing from  pressure  of  the  knot,  if  the  sleeper  turn  upon 
his  back,  will  often  serve  as  a  complete  preventive^ 
Others  fasten  a  piece  of  wood  upon  the  back  for  a  sim- 
ilar purpose.  Still  others  practice  tying  one  hand  to 
the  bedpost.  None  of  these  remedies  can  be  wholly 
depended  upon,  but  they  may  be  tried  in  connection 
with  other  means  of  treatment. 

6.  Soft  beds  and  pillows  must  be  carefully  avoided. 
Feather-beds  should  not  be  employed  when  possible  to 
find  a  harder  bed;  the  floor,  with  a  single  folded  blan- 
ket beneath  the  sleeper,  would  be  preferable.  Soft 
pillows  heat  the  head,  as  soft  beds  produce  heat  in  other 
parts.  A  hair  mattress,  or  a  bed  of  corn  husks,  oat 
straw,  or  excelsior— covered  with  two  or  three  blan- 
kets or  a  quilted  cotton  mattress — makes  a  very  health- 
ful and  comfortable  bed. 

7.  Too  many  covers  should  be  avoided  with  equal 
care.  The  thinnest  possible  covering  in  summer,  and 
the  lightest  consistent  with  comfort  in  winter,  should 
be  the  rule.  Sleeping  too  warm  is  a  frequent  exciting 
cause  of  nocturnal  losses. 

8.  Thorough  ventilation  of  the  sleeping-room,  both 
while  occupied  and  during  the  daytime,  must  not  be 
neglected.  It  should  be  located  in  a  position  to  admit 
the  sunshine  during  the  morning  hours.  It  is  a  good 
plan  to  keep  in  it  a  number  of  house  plants,  as  they 
will  help  to  purify  the  air,  besides  adding  to  its  cheer- 
fulness. 

9.  If  wakeful  at  night,  instead  of  lying  in  bed  try- 


338  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

ing  to  go  to  sleep,  get  up  at  once,  open  the  bed,  air  the 
sheets,  remove  the  night-clothing,  and  walk  about  the 
room  for  a  few  minutes,  rubbing  the  body  briskly  with 
the  bare  hand  at  the  same  time.  A  tepid  sponge  bath, 
followed  by  a  vigorous  rubbing  kept  up  until  really 
tired,  will  conduce  to  sleep  in  many  cases.  Sometimes 
a  change  of  bed,  or  pulling  the  bed  to  pieces  and  ar- 
ranging it  again,  is  just  the  thing  needed  to  bring  sleep. 

10.  One  of  the  most  effectual  panaceas  for  certain 
varieties  of  sleeplessness  is  going  to  bed  at  peace  with 
all  the  world,  and  with  a  conscience  void  of  offense 
toward  God  as  well  as  man. 

Dreams.— This  is  a  subject  of  much  interest  to  those 
suffering  from  nocturnal  pollutions,  for  these  occur- 
rences are  almost  always  connected  with  dreams  of  a 
lascivious  nature. 

In  perfectly  natural  sleep,  there  are  no  dreams; 
consciousness  is  entirely  suspended.  In  the  ordinary 
stage  of  dreaming,  there  is  a  peculiar  sort  of  conscious- 
ness, many  of  the  faculties  of  the  mind  being  more 
or  less  active,  while  the  power  of  volition  is  wholly 
dormant.  Carpenter  describes  another  stage  of  con- 
sciousness between  that  of  ordinary  dreaming  and 
wakefulness,  a  condition  *4n  which  a  dreamer  has  a 
consciousness  that  he  is  dreaming,  being  aware  of  the 
unreliability  of  the  images  which  present  themselves 
before  the  mindo  He  may  even  make  a  voluntary  and 
successful  effort  to  prolong  them  if  agreeable,  or  to 
dissipate  them  if  unpleasing,  thus  evincing  a  certain 
degree  of  that  directing  power,  the  entire  want  of 
which  is  characteristic  of  the  true  state  of  dreams." 

Can  Dreams  Be  Controlled?— Facts  prove  that 
they  can  be,  and  to  a  remarkable  extent.  Emissions 
most  frequently  occur  in  the  state  described  by  Dr. 


UNCHASTITY  339 

Carpenter,  in  whicli  a  certain  amount  of  control  by 
the  will  is  possible.  This  is  the  usual  condition  of  the 
mind  during  morning  naps ;  and  if  a  person  resolutely 
determines  to  combat  unchaste  thoughts  whenever  they 
come  to  him,  whether  asleep  or  awake,  he  will  find  it 
possible  to  control  himself,  not  only  during  this  semi- 
conscious state,  but  even  during  more  profound  sleep. 

The  following  case  related  by  an  eminent  London 
surgeon,*  illustrates  what  may  be  done  by  strong  reso- 
lution; the  patient  was  an  Italian  gentleman  of  very 
great  respectability. 

''He  had  been  inconvenienced  five  years  before 
with  frequent  emissions,  which  totally  unnerved  him. 
He  determined  resolutely  that  the  very  instant  the 
image  of  a  woman  or  any  libidinous  idea  presented 
itself  to  his  imagination,  he  ivould  wake;  and  to  insure 
his  doing  so,  dwelt  in  his  thoughts  on  his  resolution 
for  a  long  time  before  going  to  sleep.  The  remedy, 
applied  by  a  vigorous  will,  had  the  most  happy  results. 
The  idea,  the  remembrance  of  its  being  a  danger,  and 
the  determination  to  wake,  closely  united  the  evening 
before,  were  never  dissociated,  even  in  sleep,  and  he 
awoke  in  time ;  and  this  reiterated  precaution,  repeated 
during  some  evenings,  absolutely  cured  the  complaint. ' ' 

Several  other  cases  of  the  same  kind  have  been  re- 
corded. Doubtless  the  plan  would  be  found  successful 
in  many  cases  when  coupled  with  a  proper  regimen. 

A  still  greater  control  is  exerted  over  the  thoughts 
during  sleep  by  their  character  during  hours  of  wake- 
fulness. By  controlling  the  mind  during  entire  con- 
sciousness, it  will  also  be  controlled  during  unconscious- 
ness or  semi-consciousness. 

Dro  Acton  makes  the  following  very  appropriate  re- 
marks upon  this  subject: 

*  Acton, 


340  PLAIN    FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

"Patients  will  tell  you  that  they  cannot  control  their 
dreams.  This  is  not  true.  Those  who  have  studied 
the  connection  between  thoughts  during  waking  hours 
and  dreams  during  sleep,  know  that  they  are  closely 
connected.  The  character  is  the  same  sleeping  or  wak- 
ing. It  is  not  surprising  that,  if  a  man  has  allowed  his 
thoughts  during  the  day  to  rest  upon  libidinous  sub- 
jects, he  should  find  his  mind  at  night  full  of  lascivious 
dreams;  the  one  is  a  consequence  of  the  other,  and  the 
nocturnal  pollution  is  a  natural  consequence,  particu- 
larly when  diurnal  indulgence  has  produced  an  irrita- 
bility of  the  generative  organs.  A  will  which  in  our 
waking  hours  we  have  not  exercised  in  repressing  sex- 
ual desire,  will  not,  when  we  fall  asleep,  preserve  us 
from  carrying  the  sleeping  echo  of  our  waking  thought 
farther  than  we  dared  to  do  in  the  daytime." 

Bathing.— Frequent  bathing  is  indispensable  to 
health  under  all  circumstances;  for  patients  of  this 
class,  it  is  especially  necessary.  A  general  bath  should 
be  taken  every  morning  immediately  upon  rising. 
General  cold  bathing  is  not  beneficial  to  every  person, 
even  in  the  morning,  though  some  may  tolerate  it  re- 
markably well,  being  of  exceptionally  hardy  constitu- 
tions; but  the  advice  to  try  ''cold  bathing,"  often 
given  to  sufferers  from  seminal  weakness,  is  very  per- 
nicious; for  most  of  them  have  been  reduced  so  low  in 
vitality  by  their  disease  that  they  cannot  endure  such 
violent  treatment. 

Cool  bathing  is,  however,  to  be  recommended.  The 
temperature  of  the  water  employed  should  be  fifteen 
or  twenty  degrees  below  that  of  the  body.  The  admin- 
istration of  water  in  the  form  of  a  hand  or  sponge 
bath  in  the  morning  on  arising  is  an  excellent  tonic- 
The  saline  sponge  bath,  employing  a  tablespoonful  of 


UNCHASTITY  341 

salt  to  the  quart  of  water,  is  somewhat  more  stimulat- 
ing than  the  ordinary  water  bath. 

Sun  baths,  electric  baths,  spray,  plunge,  and  other 
forms  of  bath  are  of  greatest  value  to  those  suffering 
from  the  effects  of  indiscretions.  These  are  described, 
with  additional  observations  concerning  the  tempera- 
ture of  baths,  etc.,  in  works  devoted  to  this  subject. 

Improvement  of  General  Health.— Patients  suf- 
fering from  emissions  and  other  forms  of  seminal 
weakness  are  almost  always  dyspeptic,  and  most  of 
them  present  other  constitutional  affections  which  re- 
quire careful  and  thorough  treatment  according  to  the 
particular  indications  of  the  case.  The  wise  physician 
will  not  neglect  these  if  he  desires  to  cure  his  patient, 
and  make  his  recovery  as  complete  as  possibleo 

Prostitution  as  a  Remedy.— Said  a  leading  physi- 
cian in  New  York  to  us,  when  interrogated  as  to  his 
special  treatment  of  spermatorrhea,  ''Wlien  a  young 
man  comes  to  me  suffering  from  nocturnal  emissions, 
I  give  him  tonics  and  send  him  to  a  woman,"  That 
this  is  not  an  unusual  method  of  treatment,  even  among 
regular  physicians,  is  a  fact  as  true  as  it  is  deplorable. 
There  are  hundreds  of  young  men  whose  morals  have 
been  ruined  by  such  advice.  Having  been  educated  to 
virtuous  habits,  at  least  so  far  as  illicit  intercourse  is 
concerned,  they  resist  all  temptations  in  this  direction, 
even  though  their  inclinations  are  very  strong;  but 
when  advised  by  a  physician  to  commit  fornication  as 
a  remedial  measure,  they  yield  their  virtue,  far  too 
readily  sometimes,  and  begin  a  life  of  sin  from  which 
they  might  have  been  prevented.  There  are  good 
grounds  for  believing  that  many  young  men  purposely 
seek  advice  from  physicians  who  they  know  are  in  the 
habit  of  prescribing  this  kind  of  a  remedy. 


342  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Few  know  liow  commonly  this  course  is  recom- 
mended, and  not  by  quacks,  but  by  members  of  the 
regular  profession.  A  friend  informed  the  writer  that 
ne  knew  a  case  in  which  a  country  physician  advised 
a  young  man  of  continent  habits  to  go  to  a  neighbor- 
ing large  city,  and  spend  a  year  or  so  with  prostitutes, 
which  advice  he  followed.  Of  his  subsequent  history  we 
know  nothing;  but  it  is  very  probable  that,  like  most 
other  young  men  who  adopt  this  remedy,  he  soon  con- 
tracted diseases  which  rendered  his  condition  ten  times 
worse  than  at  first,  without  at  all  improving  his  former 
state.  In  pursuing  this  course,  one  form  of  emission 
is  only  substituted  for  another,  at  the  best;  but  more 
than  this,  an  involuntary  result  of  disease  is  converted 
into  a  voluntary  sin  of  the  blackest  character,  a  crime 
in  which  two  participate,  and  which  is  not  only  an  out- 
rage upon  nature,  but  against  morality  as  well. 

A  final  argument  against  this  course  is  that  it  is 
not  a  remedy,  and  does  not  effect  a  cure  of  the  evil,  as 
will  be  shown  by  the  following  medical  testimonies: 

''The  vexed  question  of  connection  is  one  which 
may  be  decided  out  of  hand.  ...  7^  has  no  poiver  of 
curing  had  spermatorrhea;  it  may  cause  a  diminution 
in  the  number  of  emissions,  but  this  is  only  a  delusion ; 
the  semen  is  still  thrown  off;  the  frame  still  continues 
to  be  exhausted ;  the  genital  organs  and  nervous  system 
generally  are  still  harassed  by  the  incessant  tax;  and 
the  patient  is  all  the  while  laying  the  foundation  of 
impotence. ' '  * 

''  In  all  solemn  earnestness  I  protest  against  such 
false  treatment.  It  is  better  for  a  youth  to  live  a  con- 
tinent life."  ''There  is  a  terrible  significance  in  the 
wise  man's  words,  'None  that  go  to  her  return  again, 
neither  take  they  hold  of  the  path  of  life.'  "  t     This 

'  Milton.  t  Acton. 


UNCHASTITY  343 


hazardous  and  immoral  mode  of  treatment  is  the  result 
of  the  common  opinion  that  emissions  are  necessary  and 
natural,  which  we  have  previously  shown  to  be  false. 
Marriage.  —  Another  class  of  practitioners,  with 
more  apparent  regard  for  morality,  recommend  matri- 
mony as  a  sure  panacea  for  all  the  ills  of  which  the 
suiferers  from  self-abuse  complain,  with  the  possible 
exception  of  actual  impotence.  Against  this  course, 
several  objections  may  be  urged;  we  offer  the  follow- 
ing: 

1.  It  is  not  a  remedy,  since,  as  in  the  case  of  illicit 
intercourse,  *' legalized  prostitution"  is  only  a  substi- 
tution of  one  form  of  emission  for  another,  the  ill 
effects  of  which  do  not  differ  appreciably. 

2.  If  it  were  a  remedy,  it  would  not  be  a  justifiable 
one,  for  its  use  would  necessitate  an  abuse  of  the  mar- 
riage relation,  as  elsewhere  shown. 

3.  As  another  reason  why  the  remedy  would  not  be 
a  proper,  even  if  a  good  one,  it  may  well  be  asked, 
A^Hiat  right  has  a  man  to  treat  a  wife  as  a  vial  of 
medicine?  Well  does  Mr.  Acton  inquire,  ''AVhat  has 
the  young  girl,  who  is  thus  sacrificed  to  an  egotistical 
calculation,  done  that  she  should  be  condemned  to  the 
existence  that  awaits  her?  Wlio  has  the  right  to  re- 
gard her  as  a  therapeutic  agent,  and  to  risk  thus  lightly 
her  future  prospects,  her  repose,  and  the  happiness 
of  the  remainder  of  her  life!" 

In  cases  in  which  seminal  emissions  occur  fre- 
quently, the  most  reliable  writers  upon  this  subject- 
Copland,  Acton,  Milton,  and  others— advise,  with  ref- 
erence to  marriage,  "that  the  complaint  should  be 
removed  before  the  married  life  is  commenced."  Inde- 
pendent of  the  considerations  already  presented,  the 
individual  affected  in  this  manner  and  contemplating 

21 


344  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

marriage,  should  carefully  consider  the  possible  and 
probable  effects  upon  offspring,  the  legitimate  result 
of  marriage;  these  have  been  already  described,  and 
need  not  be  recapitulated. 

Local  Treatment.  —While  it  is  true  that  general 
treatment  alone  is  occasionally  successful  in  curing  the 
diseases  under  consideration,  and  that  local  treatment 
alone  is  very  rarely  efficient,  it  is  also  true  that  in 
many  cases  skilful  local  treatment  is  required  to  sup- 
plement the  general  remedies  employed.  "While  there 
has  been  a  tendency  on  the  part  of  the  profession  gener- 
ally to  depend  wholly  upon  general  treatment,  on  the 
part  of  a  less  numerous  body  of  specialists  there  has 
been  an  opposite  tendency,  to  depend  wholly,  or  nearly 
so,  upon  local  measures.  Both  extremes  are  evidently 
wrong. 

The  object  of  local  treatment  for  the  relief  of  emis- 
sions, especially,  is  to  remove  the  local  cause  of  irrita- 
tion, which,  as  previously  shown,  is  one  of  the  most 
active  exciting  causes  of  seminal  losses.  To  effect  this, 
both  interna]  and  external  applications  are  useful.  We 
will  now  consider  some  of  these  agents. 

SIMPLE   METHODS   OF   TREATMENT. 

No  simple  directions  for  treatment  can  render  a 
person  competent  to  dispense  with  the  services  of  a 
physician,  but  there  are  some  simple  hygienic  means 
which  are  remarkably  effective  in  relieving  many  of 
the  special  morbid  conditions  which  are  referred  to 
in  this  work.  In  the  following  images  we  shall  de- 
scribe a  few  simple  methods  of  employing  water, 
one  of  the  most  important  of  all  hygienic  measures 
known. 


UNCHASTITY  345 


The  Cool  Sitz  Bath, —Place  in  an  ordinary  sitz 
bath  tub  ( a  common  washtub  may  be  used  by  propping 
up  one  side  of  it)  a  sufficient  amount  of  water  to  make 
it  about  one-third  to  one-half  full.  The  temperature 
should  be  75°  to  65°  Fahrenheit.  A  higher  tempera- 
ture should  be  used  at  the  beginning  of  the  use  of  the 
bath,  the  temperature  being  lowered  day  by  day  until 
a  temperature  of  sixty  degrees  may  be  readily  toler- 
ated. A  foot  bath  should  be  prepared  with  hot  water, 
temperature  102°  to  106°. 

Undressing,  the  patient  bathes  his  head  and  neck 
with  cold  water,  then  jDlaces  himself  in  the  bath  with 
the  feet  immersed  in  the  hot  foot  bath.  A  woolen  blan- 
ket is  thrown  over  all  in  such  a  way  as  to  cover  the 
legs,  including  the  foot  bath.  The  duration  of  the  bath 
may  be  ten  to  twenty  minutes.  The  higher  the  tem- 
perature, the  longer  the  duration  should  be;  the  lower 
the  temperature,  the  shorter  the  duration.  The  hips 
and  abdomen  should  be  well  rubbed  by  the  patient 
during  the  bath,  to  prevent  chilliness. 

This  is  an  excellent  bath  for  the  relief  of  chronic 
congestion  of  the  pelvic  organs  and  for  hemorrhoids. 
It  should  not  be  employed  in  cases  in  which  pain  or 
tenderness  is  a  marked  sjTuptom.  It  is  useful  in  cases 
of  diurnal  losses,  but  it  should  be  avoided  in  cases  of 
frequent  nocturnal  losses  with  smarting  or  burning 
after  urinating,  and  in  cases  of  irritable  bladder,  pain- 
ful prostate,  and  neuralgia  of  the  ovaries  or  testicles. 
It  is  in  general  an  excellent  remedy  for  chronic  pelvic 
congestions,  so-called  catarrh  of  the  womb,  leucorrhea, 
uterine  prolapse,  relaxed  abdominal  muscles,  vari- 
cocele, seminal  weakness,  and  sexual  neurasthenia. 

The  Hot  Sitz  Bath.— The  preparation  is  the  same 
as  for  the  cool  sitz  bath  except  that  hot  water  is  used 


346  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 


of  a  temperature  from  102°  to  104°  at  the  start.  With 
the  addition  of  the  hot  water,  the  temperature  should 
be  gradually  increased  until  as  hot  as  can  be  borne. 
The  duration  of  the  bath  should  be  five  to  ten  minutes. 
The  head  should  be  kept  well  cooled  by  a  towel,  wet 
with  cold  water  and  placed  about  the  head,  face,  and 
neck.  On  rising  from  the  bath,  cold  water  should  be 
dashed  about  the  hips  and  other  parts  which  have  been 
reddened  by  the  heat.  Another  excellent  plan  is  to 
pour  a  pail  of  cold  water  over  the  chest  and  shoulders, 
allowing  it  to  run  into  the  bath,  thus  cooling  the  water, 
and  continuing  the  bath  for  one  or  two  minutes. 

This  bath  is  an  excellent  measure  for  relieving  pel- 
vic pain  from  any  cause,  especially  neuralgic  pain, 
pain  in  the  bladder,  ovarian  pain,  and  neuralgia  of 
the  testicles,  pain  from  rectal  ulcer  or  from  an  inflamed 
prostate,  and  sciatic  pain. 

The  Neutral  Sitz  Bath.— The  general  prepara- 
tion is  the  same  as  for  the  cool  sitz.  The  temperature 
of  the  water  is  92°  to  96°,  and  the  duration  ten  minutes 
to  one  hour. 

This  is  an  excellent  remedy  in  cases  where  there  is 
an  excessive  irritability  of  the  prostate,  genital  organs, 
bladder,  or  other  pelvic  organs.  It  relieves  priapism 
and  genital  irritation,  and  is  an  excellent  remedy  in 
cases  of  nocturnal  losses  due  to  irritation. 

The  Cold  Towel  Eub.— The  patient  is  undressed, 
and  lies  in  bed  wrapped  in  a  woolen  blanket.  A  towel 
is  wrung  out  of  cold  water  and  spread  quickly  upon 
the  chest  and  abdomen.  The  patient  holds  the  upper 
end  of  the  towel  while  the  attendant  makes  rubbing 
movements  over  the  towel  from  above  downward,  using 
the  hands  in  alternation.  As  soon  as  the  towel  be- 
comes warm  it  is  removed  and  replaced  by  a  dry 


""  M 

^ 

n 

^ 

X 

P 

r 

r 

CO 

s^r 

.  J 

fc. 

- 

UNCHASTITY  349 


towel  with  which  the  parts  are  dried.  The  parts  are 
then  rubbed  with  the  dry  hand  until  well  reddened. 
The  towel  is  applied  in  a  similar  way,  first  to  one  arm 
and  then  to  the  other,  then  to  the  legs.  The  patient 
now  turns  over,  and  an  application  is  made  to  the  back 
and  then  to  the  back  side  of  the  legs.  The  head  is 
cooled  before  the  beginning  of  the  bath,  and  care  is 
taken  to  keep  the  patient  well  covered,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  part  which  is  being  rubbed. 

The  Morning  Bath.  —An  excellent  way  to  take  a 
tonic  morning  bath  is  the  following:  Close  the  waste 
of  the  bath  tub  and  open  the  cold-water  faucet.  Stand- 
ing undressed  beside  the  tub,  bathe  the  face,  neck,  and 
chest  with  cold  water  for  half  a  minute.  By  this  time 
there  will  be  two  or  three  inches  of  water  in  the  tub. 
Step  into  the  tub,  rub  one  foot  with  the  other  alter- 
nately, while  counting  twenty.  Sit  down  in  the  tub, 
with  the  legs  extended,  so  that  the  feet  receive  the  cold 
water  as  it  runs  from  the  faucet.  Bend  forward  and 
with  the  hands  rub  the  legs  from  one  end  to  the  other 
very  vigorously,  while  counting  ten.  Then  dipping  the 
hands  in  the  water,  rub  the  chest  and  sides  while  count- 
ing ten.  Rub  the  legs  again  and  then  lie  down  in  the 
water  and  rub  the  sides,  crossing  the  arms  in  front  of 
the  body  while  counting  ten.  If  not  accustomed  to  cold 
bathing,  it  is  best  to  rise  immediately  now  and  leave 
the  bath.  On  leaving  the  bath,  the  bather  should  cover 
himself  with  a  sheet,  better  a  Turkish  sheet,  and  quickly 
rub  the  whole  surface  of  the  body,  so  as  to  start  a  re- 
action. Continue  rubbing  hard  with  the  sheet,  or  first 
with  the  sheet  and  then  with  a  rough  towel,  until  the 
whole  surface  of  the  body  glows.  Rub  the  back  by 
means  of  a  see-saw  movement  with  a  towel  grasped  at 
each  end.    Be  sure  to  dry  every  part  thoroughly.    Dress 


350  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 


quickly  and  take  a  brisk  walk  for  ten  or  fifteen  min- 
utes, or  take  some  form  of  gymnastic  exercise  until 
reaction  is  well  established. 

If  one  becomes  chilly  after  a  cold  bath,  or  has  head- 
ache or  cold  hands  or  feet,  the  results  are  damaging 
rather  than  beneficial.  There  must  be  good  reaction 
and  a  feeling  of  well-being.  If  not,  the  cold  bath  should 
not  be  taken. 

If  a  bath  tub  is  not  available,  a  bath  which  is  very 
beneficial  may  be  taken  with  a  washbowl  and  a  towel. 
The  towel  should  be  wrung  just  dry  enough  so  it  will 
not  drip,  and  the  whole  body  should  be  gone  over  rap- 
idly, and  quickly  dried. 

Persons  suffering  from  seminal  weakness,  sexual 
neurasthenia,  or  general  debility  from  any  cause, 
may  take  a  cool  (not  cold)  morning  bath,  and  in 
some  cases  it  may  be  taken  two  or  three  times  a 
day.  The  room  in  which  the  bath  is  taken  should  be 
warm,  and  the  body  should  always  be  warm  before 
entering  the  bath.  A  cold  bath  should  never  be  taken 
when  there  is  a  sensation  of  chilliness,  when  the  body 
is  exhausted,  or  when  there  is  a  great  feeling  of  dread 
of  contact  with  the  cold  water.  Persons  suffering  from 
Bright 's  disease  and  from  weak  heart  must  avoid  very 
cold  general  baths  and  especially  prolonged  cold  baths. 
In  such  cases,  the  cold  application  should  be  made  to 
small  surfaces  in  succession,  as  an  arm,  leg,  chest,  or 
some  other  part,  and  each  part  should  be  rubbed  until 
good  reaction  occurs  before  proceeding  to  another  part. 

The  Evening  Bath.— Cold  baths  are  best  taken 
in  the  early  i^art  of  the  day,  for  the  reason  that  they 
are  strongly  tonic  and  exciting  and  sometimes  produce 
wakefulness  when  taken  at  night.  A  bath  taken  to 
produce  sleep  should  be  at  a  temperature  of  92  to  95 


TJNCHASTITY  351 

degrees,  and  should  be  prolonged  until  drowsiness 
occurs.  At  the  close,  the  bath  should  be  cooled  very 
slightly,  not  more  than  five  or  ten  degrees.  Such  a 
bath  is  called  a  neutral  bath.  Sometimes  the  patient 
may  be  allowed  to  fall  asleep  in  the  bath  with  advan- 
tage. This  is  one  of  the  best  known  means  of  inducing 
sleep.  A  hot  bath  is  depressing  and  weakening. 
Sweating  baths  and  cleansing  baths  are  generally  best 
taken  before  retiring. 

The  Bladder  Douche.— One  of  the  best  means  of 
relieving  bladder  irritation  and  catarrh  of  the  bladder, 
is  the  hot  bladder  douche.  This  is  administered  by 
means  of  a  catheter  and  a  fountain  syringe.  The  in- 
struction should  be  given  by  a  trained  nurse  or  by  a 
physician.  It  is  especially  necessary  to  have  proper 
instruction  in  regard  to  the  care  of  the  catheter,  to 
avoid  infection.  The  temperature  of  the  water  at  the 
beginning  of  the  douche  should  be  about  102  degrees. 
Hot  water  should  be  gradually  added  to  the  douche 
during  the  application,  until  the  temperature  is  as  hot 
as  can  be  borne  and  the  surface  well  reddened.  The 
higher  the  temperature,  the  better  the  effect  in  most 
cases. 

This  is  also  an  excellent  remedy  as  an  application 
for  the  urethra  in  cases  of  gonorrhea.  In  cases  of  this 
sort,  the  catheter  should  not,  of  course,  be  introduced 
into  the  bladder,  the  application  being  confined  to  the 
urethra.  It  is  well  to  add  salt  or  soda  to  the  water, 
in  the  proportion  of  a  teaspoonful  to  the  pint. 

The  Spinal  Douche.— This  is  an  excellent  remedy 
in  cases  of  genital  weakness.  The  patient,  undressed, 
sits  over  the  edge  of  the  bath  tub,  while  water  is  poured 
upon  the  lower  part  of  the  back  from  a  pail  or  dipper 
field  as  high  up  as  the  attendant  can  reach.    Hot  water, 


352  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND   YOUNG 

cold  water,  or  alternations  of  hot  water  and  cold  water 
may  be  used.  The  alternate  douche  is  the  most  stimu- 
lating; the  hot  douche  is  sedative,  and  is  especially 
useful  as  a  means  of  relieving  pain.  When  the  hot 
douche  is  employed,  there  should  be  a  dash  of  cold 
water  at  the  end.  The  cold  douche  is  a  powerful  tonic. 
The  patient  may  administer  this  to  himself  by  means 
of  a  rubber  tube  attached  to  the  water  faucet. 

Local  Fomentations.— Wlien  great  local  irritation 
exists,  with  considerable  pain  and  spasmodic  muscular 
action,  the  application  of  hot  fomentations  to  the  peri- 
neum will  be  found  the  most  effectual  means  of  giving 
relief.  The  hot  douche  and  hot  sitz  bath  are  useful 
under  the  same  circumstances. 

In  some  cases,  alternate  hot  and  cold  applications 
are  more  effectual  in  allaying  local  irritation  than  hot 
fomentations  alone. 

Local  Cold  Bathing.— The  genital  organs  should 
be  daily  bathed  in  cold  water  just  before  retiring.  Sim- 
ply dashing  water  upon  the  parts  for  two  or  three 
minutes  is  insufficient;  more  prolonged  bathing  is  nec- 
essary. A  short  application  of  cold  occasions  a  strong 
and  sudden  reaction,  which  increases  local  congestion; 
hence  the  bath  should  be  continued  until  the  sedative 
effect  is  fully  produced,  which  will  require  at  least  fif- 
teen minutes.  The  water  must  be  cold;  about  60°  is 
the  best  temperature.  Ice  should  be  used  to  cool  the 
water  in  warm  weather.  It  should  be  applied  thor- 
oughly, being  squeezed  from  a  sponge  upon  the  lower 
part  of  the  abdomen,  and  allowed  to  run  down. 

The  Enema.— The  use  of  the  enema  is  an  impor- 
tant means  of  aiding  recovery;  but  it  has  been  much 
abused,  and  must  be  employed  with  caution.  When 
the  bowels  are  very  costive,  relieve  them  before  re- 


UNCHASTITY  353 


tiring  by  a  copious  injection  of  tepid  water.  The 
''fountain"  or  "syphon"  syringe  is  the  best  instru- 
ment to  employ. 

Useful  as  is  the  syringe  when  needed,  nothing  could 
be  much  worse  than  becoming  dependent  upon  it.  The 
bowels  must  be  made  to  act  for  themselves  without 
such  artificial  assistance,  by  the  use  of  proper  food, 
especially  graham  flour  and  oatmeal,  and  the  avoidance 
of  hot  drinks,  milk,  sugar,  and  other  clogging  and  con- 
stipating articles;  by  wearing  the  abdominal  bandage; 
by  thorough  kneading  and  percussion  of  the  abdomen 
several  times  daily  for  five  minutes  at  a  time;  by  tak- 
ing one  or  two  glasses  of  cold  water  half  an  hour  before 
breakfast  every  morning;  and  by  plenty  of  muscular 
exercise  daily.  The  enema  should  be  used  occasion- 
ally, however,  rather  than  allow  the  bowels  to  continue 
costive,  and  to  avoid  severe  straining  at  stool. 

A  small,  cold  enema  taken  just  before  retiring,  and 
retained,  will  often  do  much  to  allay  local  irritation. 

Electricity.  —Probably  no  single  agent  will  accom- 
plish more  than  this  remedy  when  skilfully  applied. 
It  needs  to  be  carefully  used,  and  cannot  be  trusted  in 
the  hands  of  those  not  acquainted  with  the  physical 
properties  of  the  remedy  and  scientific  methods  of  ap- 
plying it. 

Internal  Applications.— Complete  and  rapid  suc- 
cess greatly  depends  upon  skilful  internal  treatment,  in 
a  large  number  of  cases.  We  are  aware  that  there  is 
considerable  prejudice,  in  certain  quarters,  against  in- 
ternal treatment;  but  having  had  the  opportunity  of 
observing  the  effects  of  careful  treatment  applied  in 
this  way,  and  having  put  to  the  test  of  practical  experi- 
ence this  method,  we  feel  justified  in  recommending  that 
which  is  approved  on  both  theoretical  and  practical 


354  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

grounds ;  for  it  is  rational  to  suppose  that  proper  treat- 
ment, applied  directly  to  the  seat  of  disease,  must  be 
at  least  equally  efficacious  with  methods  less  direct. 

As  heretofore  explained,  in  the  more  severe  cases 
the  urethra  is  found  in  a  very  irritable  condition.  It  is 
hyper-sensitive,  especially  in  that  portion  just  in  front 
of  the  bladder,  where  the  ejaculatory  ducts  open  into 
it.  "We  have  also  seen  how  this  condition  is  one  of  the 
chief  exciting  causes  of  emissions.  The  remedies  de- 
scribed for  allaying  this  irritation  are  all  excellent  and 
indispensable;  but  there  is  another  method  of  great 
value.  This  consists  in  the  passage  of  a  suitable  instru- 
ment, a  sound  or  bougie  of  proper  size,  two  or  three 
times  a  week.  By  the  aid  of  this  means,  the  abnormal 
irritation  will  often  diminish  with  magical  rapidity. 
The  passage  of  the  instrument,  of  course,  needs  to  be 
done  with  great  delicacy,  so  as  to  avoid  increasing  the 
irritation ;  hence  it  should  not  be  attempted  by  a  novice. 
Lack  of  skill  in  catheterism  is  doubtless  the  reason  why 
some  have  seemed  to  produce  injury  rather  than  bene- 
fit by  this  method  of  treatment. 

Use  of  Electricity.— The  use  of  electricity  in  con- 
nection with  that  of  the  sound,  adds  greatly  to  its 
utility.  By  means  of  the  metallic  instrument,  also,  elec- 
tricity may  be  applied  directly  to  the  point  of  greatest 
irritation;  and  its  soothing  effect  is  sometimes  really 
wonderful,  as  the  following  case  will  show: 

The  patient,  a  man  of  unusual  physical  develop- 
ment, was  suffering  from  nocturnal  emissions  and  di- 
minished sexual  power,  the  result  of  early  indiscretions 
and  marital  excesses.  One  of  his  most  unpleasant 
symptoms  was  severe  pain  in  the  portion  of  the  urethra 
near  the  openings  of  the  ejaculatory  ducts.  After  he 
had  been  suffering  more  than  usual  for  a  few  days^  we 


UNCHASTITY  355 


applied  the  faradic  electric  current  in  the  manner  indi- 
cated above,  for  about  fifteen  minutes.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  the  pain  was  entirely  removed,  though  con- 
siderable suffering  had  been  caused  by  the  passage  of 
the  instrument,  so  sensitive  was  the  congested  mem- 
brane. The  pain  did  not  return  again  for  two  or  three 
weeks,  though  treatment  was  necessarily  suspended  on 
account  of  absence. 

In  another  case,  that  of  a  young  man,  a  student,  at 
the  beginning  of  treatment  emissions  occurred  nightly, 
and  sometimes  as  many  as  four  in  a  single  night,  ac- 
cording to  his  statement,  which  we  had  no  reason  to 
doubt.  Under  the  influence  of  these  local  applications, 
combined  with  other  measures  of  treatment  and  a  meas- 
urably correct  regimen,  the  number  of  emissions  was 
in  a  few  weeks  reduced  to  one  in  two  or  three  weeks. 

Numerous  other  cases  nearly  as  remarkable  might 
be  detailed  if  it  were  necessary  to  do  so.  A  very  slight 
increase  of  irritation  sometimes  occurs  at  first,  but  this 
quickly  subsides. 

The  galvanic  as  well  as  the  faradic  current  is  to 
be  used  under  proper  circumstances.  The  application 
of  electricity  to  the  nerve  centers  by  means  of  central 
galvanization,  and  also  general  and  local  external  fara- 
dization, are  necessary  methods  to  be  employed  in  elec- 
trical treatment. 

Circumcision.— In  cases  of  phimosis,  in  which  irri- 
tation is  produced  by  retained  secretions,  division  of 
the  prepuce  or  circumcision  is  the  proper  remedy. 
These  cases  are  not  infrequent,  but  the  exciting  cause 
of  much  of  the  difficulty  is  often  overlooked.  The  same 
remedy  is  often  useful  in  cases  of  long  prepuce. 

When  the  glans  penis  is  unusually  tender  and  sensi- 
tive, this  condition  will  generally  be  removed  by  the 


356  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

daily  washing  with  soap  and  water  necessary  for  clean- 
liness. If  this  does  not  suffice,  or  if  there  are  slight 
excoriations  caused  by  acid  secretions,  apply,  in  addi- 
tion, a  weak  solution  of  tannin  in  glycerine  once  a  day. 

Impotence.— Loss  of  sexual  power  arising  from 
any  form  of  sexual  excess,  should  be  treated  on  the 
same  general  plan  laid  down  for  the  treatment  of  emis- 
sions and  other  weaknesses.  Heat  to  the  spine,  and 
short,  but  frequent,  local  cold  applications,  are  among 
the  most  useful  remedies ;  but  probably  electricity,  dis- 
creetly used,  is  by  far  the  most  valuable  of  all  reme- 
dies. It  should  be  applied  both  internally  and  exter- 
nally. 

The  use  of  cantharides  and  other  aphrodisiac  reme- 
dies to  stimulate  the  sexual  organs  is  a  most  pernicious 
practice.  The  inevitable  result  is  still  greater  weak- 
ness. They  should  never  be  used.  On  the  contrary, 
everything  of  a  stimulating  character  must  be  carefully 
avoided,  even  in  diet. 

Varicocele.— Patients  suffering  from  this  difficulty 
should  wear  a  proper  suspensory  bag,  as  the  continued 
pressure  of  the  distended  veins  upon  the  testes,  if  un- 
supported, will  ultimately  cause  degenerative  changes 
and  atrophy.  In  cases  of  varicocele  in  which  the  dis- 
order is  attended  by  pain,  or  marked  degeneration  of 
one  or  both  testicles,  or  in  which  the  disorder  is  an 
evident  aggravation  of  nocturnal  losses,  an  operation 
is  usually  required  to  effect  a  cure,  though  a  proper  sus- 
pensory bandage  will  often  afford  relief,  if  constantly 
worn.  The  operation  for  varicocele,  when  properly 
performed,  is  free  from  danger,  and  is  effective  in  af- 
fording relief  in  this  disorder.  The  author  has  found 
great  satisfaction  in  the  emplojniient  of  antiseptic  liga- 
tion of  the  veins,  coupled  in  bad  cases,  by  removal  of 


UNCHASTITY  357 


the  redundant  portion  of  scrotal  tissue.  This  mode  of 
operation  has  always  been  attended  by  most  excellent 
results. 

The  wearing  of  a  suspensory  bag  is  also  advisable 
for  those  whose  testicles  are  unusually  pendulous. 

Treatment  of  the  Disease  in  Women.— The  treat- 
ment of  the  results  of  self-abuse  in  woman  is  a  very 
much  more  complicated  affair  than  it  is  in  man,  owing 
to  the  greater  variety  of  local  disorders  induced 
thereby.  The  various  forms  of  displacement  require 
special  methods  of  treatment,  many  of  which  cannot 
be  readily  undertaken  at  home.  Many  of  the  measures 
suggested  for  the  treatment  of  males  are,  however,  en- 
tirely applicable  to  this  class  of  cases  in  women,  and 
may  be  employed  to  very  great  advantage  and  with 
most  excellent  results.  The  sitz  bath,  hot  sponging  of 
the  spine,  hot  and  cold  applications  to  the  spine,  and 
the  saline  sponge  bath  are  all  very  useful  measures. 

Most  important  of  all,  however,  is  the  vaginal 
douche.  This  method  of  treatment  consists  in  the  in- 
jection into  the  vagina  by  some  form  of  syringe,  par- 
ticularly the  fountain  or  syphon  syringe,  of  hot  water. 
The  temperature  should  be  110°  or  120°.  In  the  em- 
ployment of  vaginal  injections,  too  small  a  quantity 
is  usually  made  use  of.  From  three  to  five  gallons 
should  be  used  daily,  and,  as  a  rule,  the  temperature 
should  be  as  hot  as  can  be  borne  without  discomfort. 
We  know  of  no  single  method  of  treatment  which  is  able 
to  accomplish  so  much  in  these  cases  as  the  hot  vaginal 
douche.  It  should  be  uniformly  employed,  and  may 
be  continued  several  months  with  advantage.  It  should 
be  used  as  long  as  the  leucorrheal  discharge  is  present, 
this  being  a  symptom  of  local  congestion,  and  one  which 
is  more  readily  relieved  by  this  means  than  any  other. 


358  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

The  addition  of  a  little  alum  or  some  other  form  of 
astringent  to  the  last  portion  of  water  employed,  is  in 
many  cases  advantageous.  Alum  or  tannin  may  be 
used  in  proportion  of  one  dram  to  the  quart  of  water. 

In  cases  of  sexual  apathy,  or  loss  of  ability  to 
engage  in  the  sexual  act,  the  application  of  faradic 
electricity  to  the  vagina  by  means  of  a  proper  electrode 
is  of  very  great  advantage.  One  electrode  should  be 
placed  in  the  vagina,  while  the  other,  connected  with 
the  sponge,  is  passed  over  the  lower  portion  of  the 
spine,  across  the  lower  part  of  the  abdomen,  and  along 
the  inside  of  the  thighs. 

For  directions  for  further  treatment  of  these  and 
like  derangements,  the  reader  is  referred  to  other  works 
by  the  author,  in  which  the  subject  is  fully  treated. 

Drugs,  Rings,  Etc.— If  drugs,  per  se,  will  cure 
invalids  of  any  class,  they  are  certainly  not  satisfactory 
in  this  class  of  patients.  The  whole  materia  medica 
affords  no  root,  herb,  extract,  or  compound  that  alone 
will  cure  a  person  suffering  from  emissions.  Thou- 
sands of  unfortunates  have  been  ruined  by  long-con- 
tinued drugging.  One  physician  will  purge  and  sali- 
vate the  patient.  Another  will  dose  him  with  phos- 
X)liorus,  quinine,  or  ergot.  Another  feeds  him  with 
iron.  Another  plies  him  with  lupuline,  camphor,  and 
digitaline.  Still  another  narcotizes  him  with  opium, 
belladonna,  and  chloral.  Purgatives  and  diuretics  are 
given  by  another,  and  some  will  be  found  ready  to 
empty  the  whole  pharmacopoeia  into  the  poor  suf- 
ferer's stomach  if  he  can  be  made  to  open  his  mouth 
wide  enough. 

The  way  some  of  these  unfortunate  persons  are 
blistered,  and  burned,  and  cauterized,  and  tortured  in 
sundry  other  ways,  is  almost  too  horrible  to  think  of; 


UNCHASTITY  359 

yet  they  endure  it,  often  willingly,  thinking  it  but  just 
punishment  for  their  sins,  and  perhaps  hoping  to  ex- 
piate them  by  this  cruel  penance.  By  these  procedures, 
the  emissions  are  sometimes  temporarily  checked;  but 
the  patient  is  not  cured,  nevertheless,  and  the  malady 
soon  returns. 

The  emplo^^Ilent  of  rings,  pessaries,  and  numerous 
other  mechanical  devices  for  preventing  emissions,  is 
entirely  futile.  No  dependence  can  be  placed  upon 
them.  Some  of  these  contrivances  are  very  ingenious, 
but  they  are  all  worthless,  and  time  and  money  spent 
upon  them  are  thrown  away. 

Quacks.  —The  victims  of  self -abuse  fall  an  easy 
prey  to  the  hordes  of  harpies,  fiends  in  human  shape, 
who  are  ready  at  every  turn  to  make  capital  out  of  their 
misfortunes.  From  no  class  of  persons  do  quacks  and 
charlatans  derive  so  rich  a  harvest  as  from  these  err- 
ing ones.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  a  man  suffering 
from  seminal  weakness  who  has  paid  to  sundry  parties 
hundreds  of  dollars  for  "specifics"  which  they  adver- 
tised as  ' '  sure  cures. ' '  We  have  seen  and  treated  scores 
of  these  patients,  but  never  yet  met  a  single  case  that 
had  received  permanent  benefit  from  patent  medicines. 

The  newspapers  are  full  of  the  advertisements  of 
these  heartless  villains.  They  advertise  under  the 
gTiise  of  "clergymen,"  charitable  institutions,  "cured 
invalids,"  and  similar  pretenses.  Usually  they  offer 
for  sale  some  pill  or  mixture  which  will  be  a  sure  cure, 
in  proof  of  which  they  cite  the  testimonials  of  numerous 
individuals  who  never  lived,  or,  at  least,  never  saw 
either  them  or  their  filthy  compounds ;  or  they  promise 
to  send  free  a  recipe  which  will  be  a  certain  cure.  Here 
is  a  specimen  recipe  which  was  sent  by  a  "reverend" 
gentleman,  who  claims  to  be  a  returned  missionary 


360         PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AN"D  YOUNG 

from  South  America,  and  wlio  is  so  intent  on  doing 
good  tliat  lie  charges  nothing  for  his  invaluable  infor- 
mation : 

Extract  of  Corrossa  apimis, 

"         "  Selarmo  umbelifera. 
Powdered  Alkermes  latifolia, 
Extract  of  Carsadoc  herbalis. 

This  remarkable  recipe  is  warranted  to  cure  all  the 
evils  arising  from  self-abuse,  without  any  attention  to 
diet  or  inconvenience  of  any  kind,  to  prevent  consump- 
tion and  insanity,  and  to  cure  venereal  diseases.  It 
is  also  declared  to  be  a  perfectly  "safe'^  remedy  for 
all  female  difficulties,  which  means  that  it  will  aid 
nefarious  purposes. 

Along  T^ith  the  recipe  comes  the  suggestion  that  the 
druggist  may  not  be  able  to  furnish  all  the  ingredients 
in  a  perfectly  pure  state,  and  so,  for  the  accommodation 
of  suffering  humanity,  this  noble  philanthropist  has 
taken  infinite  pains  to  secure  them  direct  from  South 
America,  and  has  put  them  up  in  neat  little  packages 
which  he  will  send,  postpaid,  for  the  trifle  of  $3.50,  just 
one  cent  less  than  actual  cost.  Then  he  tells  what  pur- 
ports to  be  the  history  of  his  own  nastiness,  with  a 
generous  spicing  of  pious  cant,  and  closes  with  a  bene- 
diction on  all  who  have  fallen  into  the  same  slough,  and 
especially  those  who  will  send  for  his  fabulous  foreign 
weeds  to  help  them  out.* 

A  young  man  sees  the  advertisement  of  a  book  which 
will  be  sent  free,  postage  paid,  if  he  will  only  send  his 
address.  The  title  of  the  book  being  of  some  such  char- 
acter as  ''Manhood  Regained"   or  ''Nervous  Debil- 


*  Since  the  above  was  written,  this  notorious  quack  has  died,  worth 
half  a  milHon  dollars,  gained  by  his  deceitful  practices,  and  the  public 
have  learned  that  the  name  under  which  he  advertised  was  a  fictitious 
one,  and  that  he  was  neither  a  clergyman  nor  a  missionary,  as  claimed 


UNCHASTITY  361 


ity,"  he  imagines  it  may  suit  his  ease,  and  sends  his 
name.  Return  mail  brings  the  book,  which  is  a 
wretched  jargon  of  confusing  terms  and  appalling  de- 
scriptions of  the  effects  of  self-abuse,  with  the  most 
shameful  exaggerations  of  the  significance  of  the  most 
trivial  symptoms.  The  ignorant  youth  reads  what  he 
supposes  to  be  a  description  of  his  own  case,  and  is 
frightened  nearly  to  death.  He  is  most  happily  re- 
lieved, however,  to  find  that  the  generous  publishers 
of  the  book  have  a  remedy  which  is  just  adapted  to  his 
case,  but  which  is  so  precious  that  it  cannot  be  afforded 
at  less  than  $50  for  a  sufficient  quantity  to  effect  a 
cure.  He  willingly  parts  with  his  hard-earned  dollars, 
and  gets,  in  return,  some  filthy  mixture  that  did  not  cost 
a  shilling. 

Another  trap  set  is  called  an  "Anatomical  Mu- 
seum. ' '  The  anatomical  part  of  the  exhibition  consists 
chiefly  of  models  and  figures  calculated  to  excite  the 
passions  to  the  highest  pitch.  At  stated  intervals,  the 
proprietor,  who  is  always  a  ''doctor,"  and  by  prefer- 
ence a  German,  delivers  lectures  on  the  effects  of  mas- 
turbation, in  which  he  resorts  to  every  device  to  excite 
the  fears  and  exaggerate  the  symptoms  of  his  hear- 
ers, who  are  mostly  young  men  and  boys.  Thus  he 
prepares  his  victim,  and  when  he  once  gets  him  within 
his  clutches,  he  does  not  let  him  go  until  he  has  robbed 
him  of  his  last  dollar. 

We  might  present  almost  any  number  of  illustra- 
tions of  the  ways  in  which  these  human  sharks  pursue 
their  villainy.  If  there  were  a  dungeon  deep,  dark, 
and  dismal  enough  for  the  punishment  of  such  rascals, 
we  should  feel  strongly  inclined  to  petition  to  have 
them  incarcerated  in  it.  They  defy  all  laws,  civil  as 
well  as  moral,  and  are  cunning  enough  to  keep  outside 
22  ... 


362  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

of  prison  bars ;  and  thus  they  wax  rich  by  robbery,  and 
thrive  by  deceit.  A  terrible  recompense  awaits  them 
at  the  final  settlement,  though  they  escape  so  easily 
now. 

Closing  Advice.— We  cannot  finish  this  chapter 
without  a  few  closing  words  of  advice  to  those  who  are 
suffering  in  any  way  from  the  results  of  sexual  trans- 
gression. We  are  especially  anxious  to  call  attention 
to  a  few  points  of  practical  and  vital  interest  to  all  who 
are  suffering  in  the  manner  indicated. 

1.  Give  the  matter  prompt  attention.  Do  not  delay 
to  adopt  curative  measures  under  the  delusive  idea  that 
the  difficulty  will  disappear  of  itself.  Thousands  have 
procrastinated  in  this  way  until  their  constitutions  have 
been  so  hopelessly  undermined  as  to  make  treatment  of 
little  value.  The  intrinsic  tendency  of  this  disease  is 
to  continue  to  increase.  It  progresses  only  in  one  direc- 
tion. It  never  ''gets  well  of  itself,"  as  some  have 
imagined  that  it  may  do.  Something  must  be  done 
to  effect  a  cure;  and  the  longer  treatment  is  delayed, 
the  more  difficult  the  case  will  become. 

2.  Begin  the  work  of  getting  well  with  a  fixed  deter- 
mination to  persevere,  and  never  to  give  over  the  strug- 
gle until  success  is  attained,  no  matter  how  difficult  may 
be  the  obstacles  to  be  surmounted.  Such  an  effort  will 
rarely  be  unsuccessful.  One  of  the  greatest  impedi- 
ments to  recovery  from  diseases  of  this  class  is  the 
vacillating  disposition  of  nearly  all  patients  suffering 
from  disorders  of  this  character.  Make  up  your  mind 
what  course  of  treatment  to  pursue,  then  adhere  to  it 
rigidly,  until  it  has  received  a  thorough  trial.  Do  not 
despair  if  no  very  marked  results  are  seen  in  a  week, 
a  month,  or  even  a  longer  period.  The  best  remedies 
are  among  those  which  ojierate  the  most  slowly. 


UNCHASTITY  363 


3.  Avoid  watching  for  symptoms.  Ills  are  greatly 
exaggerated  by  dwelling  upon  tliem.  One  can  easily 
imagine  himself  getting  worse  when  he  is  really  im- 
proving. Indeed,  one  can  make  himself  sick  by  dwell- 
ing upon  insignificant  symptoms.  Fix  upon  a  course 
to  pursue  for  recovery,  firmly  resolve  to  comply  with 
every  requirement  necessary  to  insure  success,  and  then 
let  the  mind  be  entirely  at  rest  respecting  the  result. 

4.  Never  consult  a  quack.  The  newspapers  abound 
in  lying  advertisements  of  remedies  for  diseases  of  this 
character.  Do  not  waste  time  and  money  in  corre- 
sponding with  the  ignorant,  unprincipled  charlatans 
who  make  such  false  pretensions.  Do  not  consult  trav- 
eling doctors.  Physicians  of  real  merit  have  plenty  of 
business  at  home.  They  are  not  obliged  to  go  abroad 
in  order  to  secure  practice;  persons  who  resort  to  this 
course  are,  without  exception,  pretentious  quacks.  Con- 
sult only  some  well-known  and  reliable  physician  in 
whom  you  have  confidence.  If  your  physician  treats 
the  matter  lightly,  and  advises  marriage  as  a  means  of 
cure,  you  will  not  judge  him  harshly  if  you  decide  that 
although  he  may  be  thoroughly  competent  to  treat 
other  diseases,  he  is  ignorant  of  the  nature  and  proper 
treatment  of  this.  It  is  an  unfortunate  fact  that  there 
are  many  physicians  who  are  not  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  nature  of  spermatorrhea  and  the  proper  mode 
of  treating  the  disease ;  hence  the  importance  of  making 
a  judicious  selection  in  choosing  a  medical  adviser.  It 
is  far  better  to  consult  your  family  physician  than  to 
trust  yourself  in  the  hands  of  some  one  whom  you  do 
not  know,  and  especially  one  who  makes  great  preten- 
sions to  knowledge. 

5.  Do  not  despair  of  ever  recovering  from  the 
effects  of  past  transgression,  and  plunge  into  greater 


364  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

depths  of  sin.  Persevering,  skilful  treatment  will  cure 
almost  every  case.  Even  the  worst  cases  can  be  greatly 
benefited  if  the  earnest  co-operation  of  the  patient  can 
be  secured.  This  is  indispensable,  and  the  patient 
should  be  so  instructed  at  the  outset  of  a  course  of 
treatment. 

6.  Every  sufferer  from  sexual  disease  must  make 
up  his  mind  to  live,  during  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
as  closely  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  life  and  health 
as  circumstances  under  his  control  will  allow  him  to 
do.  One  who  pursues  this  course,  with  a  genuine  re- 
gard for  principle  and  a  love  for  right,  may  confidently 
expect  to  receive  the  reward  of  obedience  for  his  faith- 
fulness. We  would  recommend  such  to  obtain  and 
study  the  best  works  upon  hygiene,  put  in  practice 
every  new  truth  as  soon  as  learned,  and  become  mis- 
sionaries of  the  saving  truths  of  hygiene  to  others  who 
are  suffering  from  the  same  cause  as  themselves,  or 
who  may  be  in  danger  of  falling  into  the  same  evil. 


A  CHAPTER  FOR  BOYS 


BOYS,  this  chapter  is  for  you.  It  is  written  and 
printed  expressly  for  you.  The  author  does  not 
care  very  much  if  a  single  page  is  not  read  by 
grown  men,  but  is  very  solicitous  that  every  boy  shall 
read  each  line  thoughtfully  and  carefully,  weighing 
well  the  facts  presented  and  the  words  of  warning 
offered.  You  may  find  nothing  to  laugh  at,  nothing 
pleasing;  but  you  will  find  something  to  think  about, 
something  worth  pondering  and  remembering. 

Genuine  Boys.— Eeal  boys  are  scarce  nowadays. 
In  the  days  of  Methuselah,  male  human  beings  were 
still  boys  when  nearly  a  century  old ;  twenty-five  years 
ago,  boys  were  still  such  until  well  out  of  their 
' '  teens ; ' '  now,  the  interval  between  infancy  and  the  age 
at  which  the  boy  becomes  a  young  man  is  so  brief  that 
boyhood  is  almost  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  happy 
period  of  care-free,  joyous  innocence  which  formerly 
intervened  between  childhood  and  early  manhood  is 
now  almost  unobservable.  Boys  grow  old  too  fast. 
They  learn  to  imitate  the  vices  and  the  manners  of 
their  seniors  before  they  reach  their  teens,  and  are 
impatient  to  be  counted  as  men,  no  matter  how  great 
may  be  their  deficiencies,  their  unfitness  for  the  impor- 
tant duties  and  responsibilities  of  life.  The  conse- 
quence of  this  inordinate  haste  and  impatience  to  be 
old  is  premature  decay.  Unfortunately,  the  general 
tendency  of  the  boys  of  the  rising  generation  is  to  copy 

365 


366  PLAIN    FACTS    FOB    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

the  vices  of  their  elders,  rather  than  the  virtues  of  true 
manliness.  A  strong  evidence  of  this  fact,  if  there  were 
no  other,  is  the  unnaturally  old-looking  faces  which 
so  many  of  our  boys  present.  At  the  present  time  the 
average  boy  of  twelve  knows  more  of  vice  and  sin  than 
the  youth  of  twenty  of  the  past  generation. 

Human  Mushrooms.— It  is  not  so  much  for  these 
human  mushrooms,  which  may  be  not  inaptly  compared 
to  toadstools  which  grow  up  in  a  single  night  and  al- 
most as  speedily  decay,  that  we  write,  but  for  the  old- 
fashioned  boys,  the  few  such  there  may  be;  those  who 
have  not  yet  learned  to  love  sin ;  those  whose  minds  are 
still  pure  and  uncontaminated ;  those  who  are  not 
ashamed  to  be  counted  as  boys,  who  are  an  ornament 
to  boyhood  and  a  delight  to  their  parents.  Those  who 
have  already  begun  a  course  of  vice  and  wickedness  we 
have  little  hope  of  reforming;  but  we  are  anxious  to 
offer  a  few  words  of  counsel  and  warning  which  may 
possibly  help  to  save  as  brands  plucked  from  a  blazing 
fire,  those  whose  moral  sense  is  yet  alive,  who  have 
quick  and  tender  consciences,  who  aspire  to  be  truly 
noble  and  good.  We  trust,  however,  that  a  few  who 
may  have  already  entered  upon  a  course  of  sin  will 
heed  the  warnings  given,  and  reform  before  they  have 
been  wholly  ruined  by  the  terrible  consequences  of  vice. 

"What  Are  Boys  For?"— This  question  was  an- 
swered with  exact  truthfulness  by  a  little  boy,  who, 
when  contemptuously  accosted  by  a  man  with  the  re- 
mark, "Wliat  are  you  good  for?"  replied,  ''Men  are 
made  of  such  as  we."  Boys  are  the  beginnings  of  men. 
They  sustain  the  same  relation  to  men  that  a  small 
shrub  does  to  a  full-grown  tree.  They  are  still  more 
like  the  small  green  apples  which  first  appear  when 
the  blossoms  drop  from  the  branches,  compared  with 


*'  THESE  ARE  MY  JEWELS "    (Cornelia  and  Her  Sons)      367-a 


HOME   OF  BACH   THE   MUSICIAN 


367-b 


368 


FiLiAju    LOVE 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  369 

the  ripe,  luscious  fruit  which  in  autumn  bends  the 
heavy-laden  boughs  almost  to  breaking.  Often,  like  the 
young  apples,  boys  are  green ;  but  this  is  only  natural, 
and  should  be  considered  no  disgrace  to  them.  If  they 
grow  up  naturally,  they  will  ripen  with  age,  like  the 
fruit,  developing  at  each  successive  stage  of  life  addi- 
tional attractions  and  estimable  qualities. 

Boys  the  Hope  of  the  World.— The  world's  most 
valuable  property  is  its  boys.  A  nation  which  has  poor, 
weakly,  vicious  boys  will  have  still  weaker,  more  vi- 
cious, and  untrustworthy  men.  A  country  with  noble, 
virtuous,  vigorous  boys  is  equally  sure  of  having  noble, 
pious,  brave,  and  energetic  men.  Whatever  debases, 
contaminates,  or  in  any  way  injures  the  boys  of  a  coun- 
try, saps  and  undermines  the  very  foundation  of  the 
nation's  strength  and  greatness.  Save  the  boys  from 
vice  and  crime,  give  them  good  training,  physically, 
mentally,  and  morally,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  nation 
is  assured. 

Man,  the  Masterpiece.— When  a  skilful  artist  per- 
fects a  work  of  art,  a  i^ainting,  a  drawing,  a  statue,  or 
some  other  work  requiring  great  talent,  and  exceeding 
all  his  other  efforts,  it  is  called  his  masterpiece.  So 
man  is  the  noblest  work  of  God,  the  masterpiece  of  the 
Almighty.  Numerous  anecdotes  are  told  of  the  sagac- 
ity of  dogs,  horses,  elephants,  and  other  animals,  of 
their  intelligence  as  shown  in  their  ingenious  devices 
for  overcoming  obstacles,  avoiding  difficulties,  etc. 
Our  admiration  and  wonder  are  often  excited  by  the 
scarcely  less  than  human  wisdom  shown  by  these  lowly 
brothers  of  the  human  race.  We  call  them  noble  ani- 
mals; but  they  are  only  noble  brutes,  at  best.  Com- 
pared with  man,  even  in  his  most  humble  form,  as  seen 
in  the  wild  savage  that  hunts  and  devours  his  prey  like 


370  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

a  wild  beast,  a  lion  or  a  tiger,  tliey  are  immeasurably 
inferior.  And  in  liis  highest  development,  man — civi- 
lized, cultivated,  Christianized,  learned,  generous,  pious 
— certainly  stands  at  the  head  of  all  created  things. 

Boys,  do  you  love  what  is  noble,  what  is  pure,  what 
is  grand,  what  is  good?  You  may  each,  if  you  will,  be- 
come such  yourselves.    Let  us  consider  for  a  moment — 

How  a  Noble  Character  Is  Pormed.— Every 
human  being  forms  his  own  character.  Various  traits 
and  characteristics  may  be  inherited  from  parents ;  but 
character  is  built  up  by  each  individual,  and  is  good 
or  bad  as  we  ourselves  decide.  As  a  modern  philoso- 
pher has  said,  ' '  Our  thoughts  and  our  conduct  are  our 
own."  A  noble  character  is  formed  by  the  develoi> 
ment  of  good  qualities  and  the  suppression  of  bad  ones. 
Real  improvement  is  from  within  outward,  and  comes 
from  an  individual's  own  efforts.  A  boy  can  form  a 
noble,  elevated,  lovable  character  by  cultivating  good 
and  pure  thoughts,  which  will  certainly  actuate  to  only 
good  and  pure  actions.  By  constant  effort,  evil  tend- 
encies which  have  been  inherited  may  be  overcome; 
good  traits  may  be  so  developed  as  to  overshadow  the 
evil  of  an  unfortunate  nature.  Thus  all  may  form 
noble  characters,  no  matter  how  adverse  the  circum- 
stances under  which  they  live,  or  the  natural  disadvan- 
tages with  which  they  have  to  contend. 

How  a  Noble  Character  Is  Ruined.— A  bad  char- 
acter is  formed  by  the  development  of  bad  traits  or 
evil  propensities.  In  other  words,  sin  is  the  cause  of 
the  demoralization  of  character,  the  debasing  of  the 
mind,  the  loss  of  nobility,  of  which  we  see  so  much 
around  us  in  the  world.  Wlien  one  yields  to  tempta- 
tions to  wrong-doing,  either  such  as  come  from  one's 
own  evil  nature,  or  from  evil  associates  or  surround- 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  371 

ings,  he  makes  a  blemish  upon  his  character  which 
years  may  not  remove.  An  ugly  scar  will  ever  remain 
to  mar  his  character. 

Sin  is  the  violation  of  some  law.  There  are  two 
kinds  of  sin :  that  which  is  a  transgression  of  the  moral 
law,  and  that  which  is  a  transgression  of  physical  law. 
In  one  sense,  all  sin  is  transgression  of  moral  law;  for 
it  is  the  moral  dutj^  of  every  one  to  obey  every  law 
which  relates  to  his  well-being.  Both  classes  of  sin 
are  followed  by  penalties.  If  a  person  violates  the 
laws  of  health,  he  is  just  as  certain  to  suffer  as  though 
he  tells  a  falsehood,  steals,  murders,  or  commits  any 
other  crime.  Perfect  obedience  to  all  of  nature's  laws, 
including,  of  course,  all  moral  laws,  is  necessary  to 
perfect  health  and  perfect  nobility  of  character.  The 
nature  of  these  laws  and  the  result  of  transgression  will 
be  understood  after  we  have  taken  a  hasty  glance  at— 

A  "Wonderful  Machine.— All  the  inventions  and 
devices  ever  constructed  by  the  human  hand  or  con- 
ceived by  the  human  mind,  no  matter  how  delicate,  how 
intricate  and  complicated,  are  simple,  childish  toys 
compared  with  that  most  marvelously  wrought  mecha- 
nism, the  human  body.  Its  parts  are  far  more  deli- 
cate, and  their  mutual  adjustments  infinitely  more  accu- 
rate, than  are  those  of  the  most  perfect  chronometer 
ever  made. 

In  order  to  understand  the  structure  of  this  wonder- 
ful machine,  let  us  go  back  to  the  earliest  period  of  its 
existence.  At  this  time,  we  find  it  to  be  but  a  mere 
speck  of  matter,  a  single  cell,  a  delicate  little  mass  of 
jelly-like  protoplasm  so  small  that  a  hundred  or  two 
would  not  measure  more  than  an  inch  if  arranged  in 
a  row.  Under  proper  circumstances,  this  little  cell 
grows,    expands,    and    finally    subdivides    into    two, 


372  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

through  the  operations  of  the  protoplasm,  or  living 
matter,  which  chiefly  composes  it.  The  same  activity 
occasions  another  subdivision,  making  four  cells  of  the 
two.    Still  another  division  produces  eight  cells. 

Thus  the  processes  of  growth  and  division  continue 
until  the  one  original  cell  has  developed  into  hundreds, 
even  thousands  and  millions,  under  the  active  working 
of  the  protoplasm,  which  is  the  chief  component  of  the 
cells  and  the  potent  agent  in  their  activities.  Develop- 
ment and  division  still  continue  while  a  new  process  of 
folding  is  set  up,  layers  of  cells  being  formed,  groups 
and  subgroups  being  set  off,  which  develop  into  special 
systems  and  organs,  until  by  and  by  the  whole  complex 
organism  which  we  call  man  is  developed. 

What  the  Microscope  Reveals.— To  enable  us  to 
comprehend  more  fully  how  "fearfully  and  wonder- 
fully made"  is  the  "human  form  divine,"  let  us  exam- 
ine with  minute  care,  by  the  aid  of  a  powerful  micro- 
scope, one  single  part  of  the  body,  the  blood.  A  prick 
of  the  finger  secures  a  tiny  drop  of  red  blood,  which 
we  place  upon  a  small  slip  of  glass,  and  adjust  under 
the  microscope.  The  magical  instrument  presents  to 
view  a  scene  of  such  rare  beauty  as  seldom  meets  the 
human  eye.  The  red  blood  has  faded  out  to  a  faint 
amber  color,  and  the  whole  field  is  swarming  with  tiny 
creatures  of  the  most  delicate  and  symmetrical  struc- 
ture, which  float  about  singly,  or  cling  together  in  little 
groups.  Here  and  there  may  be  seen  some  which  are 
a  little  larger  than  the  others,  though  still  so  small  that 
three  thousand  of  them  arranged  in  a  row  would 
extend  but  one  inch,  curious  little  round  masses,  so 
transparent  as  to  be  almost  invisible.  They  are  not 
very  numerous,  but  scattered  here  and  there  about 
the  field. 


A   CHAPTER   FOR  BOYS  373 

Presently  we  perceive  that  some  are  changing  their 
form.  A  moment  ago,  the  first  one  we  inspected  was 
as  round  as  a  watch  crystal;  now  it  has  become  ellip- 
tical in  form.  A  few  minutes  later,  we  look  again,  and 
it  has  stretched  itself  out  into  a  long  filament  like  an 
angleworm.  Presently,  it  begins  to  draw  itself  up 
into  a  round  mass  again;  and  in  less  time  than  is  re- 
quired to  describe  the  action,  it  has  assumed  its  original 
shape,  but  has  changed  its  position.  That  is  the  way 
the  little  creature  moves  about.  It  makes  itself  into 
the  shape  of  a  worm,  and  crawls  just  as  a  worm  does, 
by  making  one  end  fast,  and  drawing  the  rest  of  the 
body  up. 

But  what  does  it  move  about  for  ?  Why  may  it  not 
remain  stationary!  Shortly,  we  shall  see,  if  we  watch 
carefully.  Even  now  the  reason  is  evident.  Eeader, 
just  peep  over  our  shoulder  a  moment.  Put  your  eye 
down  to  the  eyepiece  of  our  microscope.  Do  you  see 
the  little  fellow!  Look  sharp,  and  you  will.  A  few 
seconds  ago  it  was  round  as  a  full  moon.  Now  there 
is  a  little  pocket  in  one  side.  The  pocket  is  growing 
deeper  and  deeper.  "VMiat  is  the  object  of  such  a  curi- 
ous procedure !  Let  us  put  on  another  eyepiece.  Now 
we  have  magnified  the  object  a  million  times.  See 
how  much  larger  it  looks.  Now  look  at  the  pocket. 
The  mystery  is  solved.  There  is  a  little  speck  of  food 
which  the  little  creature  wishes  to  get,  and  so  he  has 
made  a  pocket  in  which  to  put  it. 

The  queerest  part  is  yet  to  come,  so  we  must  watch 
patiently  a  moment  more.  Now  the  mouth  of  the  pocket 
is  closing  up.  Evidently,  the  little  fellow  is  afraid  he 
may  lose  the  precious  morsel,  and  so  he  is  about  to 
shut  the  pocket  to  prevent  its  escape.  Now  the  open- 
ing is  closed,  and  before  we  are  aware  of  it  the  pocket 


374  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 


itself  has  disappeared,  and  there  is  the  little  particle 
inside. 

This  seems  a  marvelous  process,  but  it  is  a  peculiar 
way  these  little  fellows  have  of  taking  their  food. 
When  they  wish  to  eat,  they  make  a  mouth  or  a  stom- 
ach on  purpose  for  the  occasion.  If  we  wait  a  few 
moments,  we  shall  see  that  the  little  particle  so  curi- 
ously swallowed  has  disappeared;  it  is  now  digested. 

Thus  we  see,  by  studying  the  habits  of  these  won- 
derful little  creatures  which  live  in  the  blood,  that, 
although  having  no  legs,  wings,  or  other  organs  of  loco- 
motion, they  move  from  place  to  place  at  will;  having 
no  hands,  they  feel;  having  no  mouths,  they  eat;  and 
though  possessed  of  no  stomach,  they  digest.  They 
are  born,  develop,  grow  old  and  infirm,  and  die,  just  as 
larger  creatures.  Each  has  its  own  separate  life,  and 
its  special  duties  to  perform,  just  as  have  horses,  oxen, 
dogs,  and  the  human  beings  of  whom  they  form  a  part. 

Thus  we  learn  that  the  blood  is  a  stream,  coursing 
through  the  various  channels  of  the  body,  known  as 
arteries  and  veins,  carrying  in  each  drop  millions  of 
creatures  which  live  and  grow  in  the  limpid  fluid  like 
the  fishes  in  our  rivers,  or  like  the  birds  in  the  air. 
These  little  creatures  are  known  to  science  as  blood 
corpuscles.  Every  part  of  the  body  is  likewise  com- 
posed of  living  creatures,  which  has  each  his  special 
work  to  do.  Those  of  the  same  class,  or  which  have 
the  same  kind  of  labor  to  perform,  are  grouped  to- 
gether, just  as  glass-blowers,  printers,  and  other  per- 
sons of  the  same  trade,  are  associated  together  in  their 
work.  All  these  groups  of  living  beings,  working  to- 
gether, make  up  that  wonderful  machine,  the  human 
body,  the  most  important  parts  of  which  we  will  now 
proceed  to  study. 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  375 

In  order  that  an  individual  human  being  may  live 
and  develop,  it  is  necessary  that  he  should  eat,  drink, 
digest,  and  assimilate,  and  that  he  shouM  be  able  to 
move  about,  to  perceive ;  that  is,  to  hear,  see,  feel,  smell, 
taste,  determine  weight,  and  distinguish  temperature, 
to  think,  and  to  express  ideas  in  language.  In  order  to 
keep  his  vital  machinery  in  order,  it  is  necessary  that 
the  body  should  also  be  able  to  repair  injuries  which 
may  occur  in  consequence  of  wear  or  accident,  and  to 
remove  worn-out  material  which  would  otherwise  ob- 
struct the  working  of  the  delicate  machinery  of  which 
his  body  is  constructed.  Each  of  these  functions  re- 
quires special  organs  and  apparatuses  to  carry  on  the 
work,  as  described  in  a  previous  chapter  and  illustrated 
by  the  colored  chart.  They  may  be  more  briefly  re- 
viewed as  follows: 

The  Nutritive  Apparatus.— This  consists  of  or- 
gans for  the  purpose  of  taking  in  food  or  nourishment, 
digesting  it,  and  distributing  it  throughout  the  body 
wherever  it  is  needed.  These  are  chiefly  the  mouth  and 
teeth  for  receiving  and  chewing  the  food,  the  stomach 
and  intestines  for  digesting  and  absorbing  it,  and  the 
heart  and  blood  vessels  for  distributing  it  to  the  body. 

The  Moving  Apparatus.— For  the  purpose  of  pro- 
ducing motion,  we  have  the  muscles  and  the  bones,  by 
which  the  food  is  received,  masticated,  and  swallowed, 
the  blood  circulated,  the  body  moved  about  from  place 
to  place,  and  speech,  expression,  respiration,  and  many 
other  important  functions  performed. 

The  Thinking  and  Feeling  Apparatus.  —The 
brain  and  nerves  afford  the  means  of  thinking  and  feel- 
ing, also  giving  rise  to  all  the  activities  of  the  body  by 
the  production  of  nerve  force.  To  aid  the  brain  and 
nerves,  we  have  special  organs  provided,  termed  the 


376  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

organs  of  special  sense;  as  the  eye  for  sight,  the  ear 
for  hearing,  the  nose  for  the  detection  of  odors,  the 
tongue  for  tasting,  the  skin  and  the  mucous  membrane 
for  the  sense  of  touch. 

The  Purifying  Apparatus,— Waste  matter  accu- 
mulates in  the  body  so  rapidly  that  it  is  necessary  to 
have  abundant  and  efficient  means  to  remove  the  same, 
and  prevent  death  by  obstruction.  This  work  is  per- 
formed by  the  lungs,  liver,  kidneys,  skin,  and  mucous 
membrane. 

Each  organ  and  tissue  possesses  the  power  to  repair 
itself.  Animal  heat,  which  is  also  necessary  to  life,  is 
not  produced  by  any  special  set  of  organs,  but  results 
incidentally  from  the  various  other  processes  named. 

The  Reproductive  Apparatus.— As  there  is  a 
stomach  for  digestion,  a  brain  for  thinking,  a  ]3air  of 
lungs  for  breathing,  etc.,  so  there  are  special  organs 
for  reproducing  the  species  or  producing  new  individ- 
uals. Unlike  all  the  other  organs  of  the  body,  they  are 
intended  for  use  only  after  full  development  of  man- 
hood has  been  attained;  consequently,  they  are  only 
partially  developed  in  childhood,  becoming  perfected 
as  the  person  becomes  older,  especially  after  about  the 
age  of  fourteen  to  eighteen,  when  puberty  occurs.  The 
lungs,  the  stomach,  the  muscles,  and  other  organs  must 
be  used  constantly  from  the  earliest  period  of  infancy, 
and  hence  are  developed  sufficiently  for  efficient  use  at 
birth.  The  fact  that  the  sexual  or  reproductive  organs 
are  only  fully  developed  later  on  in  life  is  sufficient 
evidence  that  they  are  intended  for  use  only  when  the 
body  has  become  fully  matured  and  well  developed. 

The  Downhill  Road.— In  every  large  city,  and  in 
small  ones,  too,  even  in  little  villages,  we  can  scarcely 
step  upon  the  street  without  being  pained  at  meeting 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  377 

little  boys  who  have  perhaps  scarcely  learned  to  speak 
distinctly,  but  whose  faces  show  very  plainly  that  they 
have  already  taken  several  steps  down  the  steep  hill- 
side of  vice.  All  degrees  of  wickedness  are  pictured  on 
the  faces  of  a  large  proportion  of  the  boys  we  meet 
loitering  about  the  corners,  loafing  in  hotels,  groceries, 
and  about  bar-room  doors.  Everywhere  we  meet  small 
faces  upon  which  sin  and  vice  are  as  clearly  written 
as  though  the  words  were  actually  spelled  out.  Lying, 
swearing,  smoking,  petty  stealing,  and  brazen  impu- 
dence are  among  the  vices  which  contaminate  thou- 
sands and  thousands  of  the  boys  who  are  by  and  by 
to  become  the  men  of  this  country,  to  constitute  its 
legislators,  its  educators,  its  supporters,  and  its  pro- 
tectors. Is  it  possible  that  such  boys  can  become  good, 
useful,  noble,  trustworthy  men!  If  the  seeds  of  nox- 
ious weeds  can  be  made  to  produce  useful  plants  or 
beautiful  flowers,  or  if  a  barren,  worthless  shrub  can 
be  made  to  bear  luscious  fruit,  then  may  we  expect  to 
see  these  vicious  boys  grow  up  into  virtuous,  useful 
men. 

But  the  vices  mentioned  are  not  the  worst,  whose 
traces  we  see  stamped  upon  the  faces  of  hundreds  of 
boys,  some  of  whom,  too,  would  scorn  to  commit  any 
one  of  the  sins  named.  There  is  another  vice,  still  more 
terrible,  more  blighting  in  its  effects,  a  vice  which 
defiles,  diseases,  and  destroys  the  body;  weakens,  de- 
grades, and  finally  dethrones  the  mind;  debases  and 
ruins  the  soul.  It  is  to  this  vice  that  we  wish  especially 
to  call  attention.  It  is  known  as- 
Self- Abuse.— Secret  vice,  masturbation,  and  self- 
pollution  are  other  names  applied  to  the  same  awful 
sin  against  nature  and  against  God.  We  shall  not  ex- 
plain here  the  exact  nature  of  the  sin,  as  very  few  boys 


378  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

are  so  ignorant  or  so  innocent  as  to  be  unacquainted 
with  it.  To  this  sin  and  its  awful  consequences  we  now 
wish  to  call  the  attention  of  all  who  may  read  these 
lines. 

A  Dreadful  Sin.— The  sin  of  self -pollution  is  one 
of  the  vilest,  the  basest,  and  the  most  degrading  that 
a  human  being  can  commit.  It  is  worse  than  beastly. 
Those  who  commit  it  place  themselves  far  below  the 
meanest  brute  that  breathes.  The  most  loathsome 
reptile,  rolling  in  the  slush  and  slime  of  its  stagnant 
pool,  would  not  bemean  itself  thus.  It  is  true  that 
monkeys  sometimes  have  the  habit,  but  only  when  they 
have  been  taught  it  by  vile  men  or  boys,  A  boy  who 
is  thus  guilty  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  look  into  the  eyes 
of  an  honest  dog.  Such  a  boy  naturally  shuns  the  com- 
pany of  those  who  are  pure  and  innocent.  He  cannot 
look  with  assurance  into  his  mother's  face.  It  is  diffi- 
cult for  any  one  to  catch  his  eye,  even  for  a  few  seconds. 
He  feels  his  guilt,  and  acts  it  out,  thus  making  it  known 
to  every  one.  Let  such  a  boy  think  how  he  must  appear 
in  the  eyes  of  the  Almighty.  Let  him  only  think  of  the 
angels,  pure,  innocent,  and  holy,  who  are  eye-witnesses 
of  his  shameful  practices.  Is  not  the  thought  appalling? 
Would  he  dare  commit  such  a  sin  in  the  presence  of  his 
father,  his  mother,  or  his  sisters?  How,  then,  will  he 
dare  to  defile  himself  in  the  presence  of  Him  from 
whose  all-seeing  eye  nothing  is  hid? 

The  Bible  utters  the  most  solemn  warnings  against 
sexual  sins.  The  inhabitants  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
were  destroyed  by  fire  and  brimstone  for  such  trans- 
gressions. Onan  was  struck  dead  in  the  act  of  commit- 
ting a  vileness  of  this  sort.  For  similar  vices  the 
wicked  inhabitants  of  Palestine  were  destroyed,  and 
their  lands  given  to  the  Hebrews.    For  a  single  viola- 


A   CHAPTER    FOR   BOYS  379 

tion  of  the  seventh  commandment,  one  of  the  most 
notable  Bible  characters,  David,  suffered  to  the  day 
of  his  death.  Those  who  imagine  that  this  sin  is  not 
a  transgression  of  the  seventh  commandment  may  be 
assured  that  this  most  heinous,  revolting,  and  unnat- 
ural vice  is  in  every  respect  more  pernicious,  more  de- 
basing, and  more  immoral  than  what  is  generally  con- 
sidered as  violation  of  the  commandment  which  says, 
''Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery,"  and  is  a  most  fla- 
grant violation  of  the  same  commandment. 

Those  who  imagine  that  they  ''have  a  right  to  do  as 
they  please  with  themselves, ' '  so  long  as  no  one  ^se  is 
immediately  affected,  must  learn  that  we  are  not  our 
own  masters;  we  belong  to  our  Creator,  and  are  ac- 
countable to  God,  not  only  for  the  manner  in  which  we 
treat  our  fellowmen,  but  for  how  we  treat  ourselves, 
for  the  manner  in  which  we  use  the  bodies  which  he 
has  given  us.  The  man  who  commits  suicide,  who  takes 
his  own  life,  is  a  murderer  as  much  as  he  who  kills  a 
fellowman.  So,  also,  he  who  pollutes  himself  in  the 
manner  we  are  considering  violates  the  seventh  com- 
mandment, although  the  crime  is  in  both  cases  com- 
mitted against  himself.  Think  of  this,  ye  youth  who 
defile  yourselves  in  secret,  and  seek  to  escape  the  pun- 
ishment of  sin.  In  heaven  a  faithful  record  of  your 
vile  commandment-breaking  is  kept,  and  you  must  meet 
it  by  and  by.  You  are  fixing  your  fate  for  eternity; 
and  each  daily  act  in  some  degree  determines  what  it 
shall  be.  Are  you  a  victim  of  this  debasing  vice?  Stop, 
repent,  reform,  before  you  are  forever  ruined,— a  men- 
tal, moral,  and  physical  wreck. 

Self -Murderers.— Of  all  the  vices  to  which  human 
beings  are  addicted,  no  other  so  rapidly  undermines 
the  constitution  and  so  certainly  makes  a  complete 

23 


380  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 


wreck  of  an  individual  as  this,  especially  when  the 
habit  is  begun  at  an  early  age.  It  wastes  the  most  pre- 
cious part  of  the  blood,  uses  up  the  vital  forces,  and 
finally  leaves  the  poor  victim  a  most  utterly  ruined 
and  loathsome  object.  If  a  boy  should  be  deprived  of 
ooth  hands  and  feet,  and  should  lose  his  eyesight,  he 
would  still  be  infinitely  better  off  than  the  boy  who  for 
years  gives  himself  up  to  the  gratification  of  lust  in 
secret  vice.  For  such  a  boy  to  become  a  strong,  vig- 
orous man  is  just  as  impossible  as  it  would  be  to  make 
a  mammoth  tree  out  of  a  worm-eaten  bush.  Such  a 
man  will  necessarily  be  short-lived.  He  will  always 
suffer  from  the  effects  of  his  folly,  even  though  he 
marry.  He  may  become  incapable  of  having  children ; 
but  if  he  have  any,  they  will  be  quite  certain  to  be  puny, 
weak,  scrofulous,  consumptive,  rickety,  nervous,  de- 
praved in  body  and  mind,  or  otherwise  deprived  of  the 
happiness  which  grows  out  of  the  possession  of  "a 
sound  mind  in  a  sound  body." 

Let  us  notice  a  little  more  closely  the  terrible  effects 
resulting  from  this  most  unnatural  and  abominable 
vice. 

What  Makes  Boys  Dwarfs?— How  many  times 
have  we  seen  boys  who  were  born  with  good  constitu- 
tions, with  force  and  stamina  sufficient  to  develop  them 
into  large,  vigorous  men,  become  puny  dwarfs.  At  the 
time  when  they  ought  to  begin  to  grow  and  develop 
more  rapidly  than  ever  before,  their  growth  is  checked, 
and  they  cease  to  develop.  They  are,  in  fact,  stunted, 
dwarfed,  like  a  plant  which  has  a  cankerworm  eating 
away  at  its  roots.  Indeed,  there  is  a  veritable  canker- 
worm  sapping  their  vitality,  undermining  their  consti- 
tutions, and  destroying  their  prospects  for  time  and  for 
eternity.    Anxious  friends  may  attribute  the  unhappy 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  381 

change  to  overwork,  overstudy,  or  some  similar  cause; 
but  from  a  somewhat  extended  observation,  we  are 
thoroughly  convinced  that  the  very  vice  which  we  are 
considering  is  the  viper  which  blights  the  prospects 
and  poisons  the  existence  of  many  of  these  promising 
boys. 

A  boy  who  gives  himself  up  to  the  practice  of  secret 
vice  at  an  early  age,  say  as  early  as  seven  to  ten  years, 
is  certain  to  make  himself  a  wreck.  Instead  of  hav- 
ing a  healthy,  vigorous  body,  with  strong  muscles  and 
a  hardy  constitution,  he  will  be  weak,  scrawny,  sickly, 
always  complaining,  never  well,  and  will  never  know 
anything  about  that  joyous  exuberance  of  life  and  ani- 
mal spirits  which  the  young  antelope  feels  as  he  bounds 
over  the  plain,  or  the  vigorous  young  colt  as  it  frisks 
about  its  pasture,  and  which  every  youth  ought  to  feel. 

Scrawny,  Hollow-Eyed  Boys.— Boys  ought  to  be 
fresh  and  vigorous  as  little  lambs.  They  ought  to  be 
plump,  rosy,  bright-eyed,  and  sprightly.  A  boy  who 
is  pale,  scrawny,  hollow-eyed,  dull,  listless,  has  some- 
thing wrong  with  him.  Self-abuse  makes  thousands 
of  such  boys  every  year ;  and  it  is  such  boys  that  make 
vicious,  shiftless,  haggard,  unhappy  men.  This  hor- 
rible vice  steals  away  the  health  and  vitality  which  are 
needed  to  develop  body  and  mind;  and  the  lad  who 
ought  to  make  his  mark  in  the  world,  who  ought  to 
become  a  distinguished  statesman,  orator,  clergyman, 
physician,  or  author,  becomes  little  more  than  a  living 
animal,  a  mere  shadow  of  what  he  ought  to  have  been. 

Old  Boys,— Often  have  we  felt  sad  when  we  have 
heard  fond  mothers  speaking  in  glowing  terms  of  the 
old  ways  of  their  sons,  and  glorying  that  they  looked 
so  much  older  than  their  years.  In  nine  cases  out  of 
ten,  these  old-looking  boys  owe  their  appearance  to 


382  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 


this  vile  habit;  for  it  is  exceedingly  common,  and  its 
dreadful  effects  in  shriveling  and  dwarfing  and  de- 
stroying the  human  form  are  too  plainly  perceptible 
to  be  mistaken.  Oh,  this  dreadful  curse !  Why  will  so 
many  of  our  bright,  innocent  boys  pollute  themselves 
with  it? 

"What  Makes  Idiots?— Eeader,  have  you  ever  seen 
an  idiot?  If  you  have,  the  hideous  picture  will  never 
be  dissipated  from  your  memory.  The  vacant  stare, 
the  drooping,  drooling  mouth,  the  unsteady  gait,  the 
sensual  look,  the  emptiness  of  mind,— all  these  you 
well  remember.  Did  you  ever  stop  to  think  how  idiots 
are  made?  It  is  by  this  very  vice  that  the  ranks  of 
these  poor  daft  mortals  are  being  recruited  every  day. 
Every  visitor  to  an  insane  asylum  sees  scores  of  them ; 
ruined  in  mind  and  body,  only  the  semblance  of  a  hu- 
man being,  bereft  of  sense,  lower  than  a  beast  in  many 
respects,  a  human  being  hopelessly  lost  to  himself  and 
to  the  world,— oh,  most  terrible  thought!— yet  once 
pure,  intelligent,  active,  perhaps  the  hope  of  a  fond 
mother,  the  pride  of  a  doting  father,  and  possibly  pos- 
sessed of  natural  ability  to  become  greatly  distin- 
guished in  some  of  the  many  noble  and  useful  walks  of 
life ;  now  sunk  below  the  brute  through  the  degrading, 
destroying  influence  of  a  lustful  gratification. 

Boys,  are  you  guilty  of  this  terrible  sin?  have  you 
even  once  in  this  way  yielded  to  the  tempter's  voice? 
Stop,  consider,  think  of  the  awful  results,  repent,  con- 
fess to  God,  reform.  Another  step  in  that  direction, 
and  you  may  be  lost,  soul  and  body.  You  cannot  dally 
with  the  tempter.  You  must  escape  now  or  never. 
Don't  delay. 

Young  Dyspeptics.— There  is,  in  our  estimation, 
no  other  cause  so  active  as  this  in  occasioning  the  early 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  383 

breaking  down  of  the  digestive  organs  of  our  Ameri- 
can boys,  if  we  leave  out  of  the  consideration  the 
effects  of  bad  food  and  worse  cookery.  A  boy  ten  or 
twelve  years  of  age  ought  to  have  a  stomach  capable 
of  digesting  anything  not  absolutely  indigestible;  but 
there  are  to-day  thousands  and  thousands  of  boys  of 
that  age  whose  stomachs  are  so  impaired  as  to  be 
incapable  of  digesting  any  but  the  most  simple  food. 
The  digestion  being  ruined,  decay  of  the  teeth  soon  fol- 
lows. Hardly  one  boy  in  a  dozen  has  perfectly  sound 
teeth.  With  a  bad  stomach  and  bad  teeth,  a  founda- 
tion for  disease  is  laid  which  is  sure  to  result  in  early 
decay  of  the  whole  body. 

A  Cause  of  Consumption.— In  this  awful  vice  do 
we  find  a  cause,  too,  for  the  thousands  of  cases  of  con- 
sumption in  young  men.  At  the  very  time  when  they 
ought  to  be  in  their  prime,  they  break  down  in  health, 
and  become  helpless  invalids  for  life,  or  speedily  sink 
into  an  early  grave. 

Upon  their  tombstones  might  justly  be  graven, 
"Here  lies  a  self-murderer."  Providence  is  not  to 
blame;  nor  is  climate,  weather,  overwork,  overstudy, 
or  any  other  even  seemingly  plausible  cause  to  be 
blamed.  Their  own  sins  have  sunk  them  in  mental, 
moral,  and  physical  perdition.  Such  a  victim  literally 
dies  by  his  own  hand,  a  veritable  suicide.  Appalling 
thought!  It  is  a  grand  thing  to  die  for  principles,  a 
martyr  to  right  and  truth.  One  may  die  blameless  who 
is  the  victim  of  some  dire  contagious  malady  which 
he  could  not  avoid;  even  the  poor,  downcast  misan- 
thrope, whose  hopes  are  blighted  and  whose  sorrows 
multiplied,  may  possibly  be  in  some  degree  excused 
for  wishing  to  end  his  misery  with  his  life;  but  the 
wretched  being  who  sheds  his  life  blood  by  the  disgust- 


384  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

ing  maneuvers  of  self -pollution,— what  can  be  said  to 
extenuate  his  guilt?  His  is  a  double  crime.  He  will 
perish,  overwhelmed  with  his  own  vileness.  Let  him 
die,  and  return  to  the  dust  from  which  he  sprang. 
Let  him  pass  from  the  memory  of  his  fellowmen. 

The  Race  Ruined  by  Boys.— The  human  race  is 
growing  weaker  year  by  year.  The  boys  of  to-day 
would  be  no  match  in  physical  strength  for  the  hale, 
sturdy  youths  of  a  century  ago,  their  great-grand- 
parents. An  immense  amount  of  skilful  training  oc- 
casionally enables  one  to  accomplish  some  wonderful 
feat  of  walking,  rowing,  or  swimming;  but  we  hear 
very  little  of  remarkable  feats  of  labor  accomplished 
by  our  modern  boys.  Even  the  country  boys  of  to-day 
cannot  endure  the  hard  work  which  their  fathers  did 
at  the  same  age;  and  we  doubt  not  that  this  growing 
physical  weakness  is  one  of  the  reasons  why  so  large  a 
share  of  the  boys  whose  fathers  are  farmers,  and  who 
have  been  reared  on  farms,  are  unwilling  to  follow  the 
occupation  of  their  fathers  for  a  livelihood.  They  are 
too  weakly  to  do  the  work  required  in  agricultural 
life,  even  by  the  aid  of  the  numerous  labor-saving 
inventions  of  the  age. 

Wliat  is  undermining  the  health  of  the  race,  and 
sapping  the  constitutions  of  our  American  men?  No 
doubt,  much  may  be  attributed  to  the  unnatural  refine- 
ments of  civilization  in  several  directions;  but  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  vice  is  the  most  active  cause  of 
all.  Secret  sin  and  its  kindred  vices  ruin  more  con- 
stitutions every  year  than  hard  work,  severe  study, 
hunger,  cold,  privation,  and  disease  combined. 

Boys,  the  destiny  of  the  race  is  in  your  hands.  You 
can  do  more  than  all  the  doctors,  all  the  scientists  and 
most  eminent  political  men  in  the  world  to  secure  the 


A    CHAPTER    FOR   BOYS  385 

prosperity  and  future  greatness  of  the  nation,  by  tak- 
ing care  of  yourselves,  by  being  pure,  noble,  true  to 
yourselves  and  to  the  demands  of  high  moral  principle. 

Cases  Illustrating  the  Effects  of  Self-Abuse. 
—The  land  is  full  of  poor  human  wrecks  who  have 
dashed  in  pieces  their  hopes  for  this  world,  and  too 
often  for  the  next  also,  against  this  hideous  rock  which 
lies  hidden  in  the  pathway  of  every  young  man  who 
starts  out  upon  life's  stormy  voyage.  Gladly  would 
we  cover  them  and  all  their  dreadful  deformities,  with 
the  mantle  of  charity  from  the  gaze  of  their  fellow- 
beings;  but  their  number  is  so  great  that  this  could 
scarcely  be  done,  and  the  lesson  to  be  learned  from 
their  sad  fate  is  such  a  grave  one,  and  so  needful  for  the 
good  of  the  generation  of  young  men  who  are  just 
encountering  the  same  dangers,  that  we  cannot  resist 
the  promptings  of  duty  to  present  a  few  examples  of 
the  effects  of  vice  in  men  and  boys  that  have  fallen 
under  our  own  observation.  We  have  seen  hundreds 
of  cases  of  this  sort;  have  treated  many  scores  of  per- 
sons for  the  effects  of  the  terrible  crime  against  which 
we  are  seeking  to  sound  a  warning,  and  the  number  of 
cases  we  might  describe  would  fill  a  volume ;  but  we  will 
select  only  a  very  few. 

Two  Young  Wrecks.— Charles  and  Oscar  B 

were  the  sons  of  a  farmer  in  a  Western  State,  aged 
respectively  ten  and  twelve  years.  They  possessed 
well-formed  heads,  and  once  had  beautiful  faces,  and 
were  as  bright  and  sprightly  as  any  little  boys  of  their 
age  to  be  found  anywhere.  Their  father  was  proud 
of  them,  and  their  fond  mother  took  great  pleasure  in 
building  bright  hopes  for  her  darling  sons  when  they 
should  attain  maturity,  and  become  competent  to  fill 
useful  and  honorable  positions  in  the  world.     Living 


386  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

in  a  rapidly  growing  Western  community,  they  had 
every  prospect  of  growing  up  to  honorable  usefulness, 
a  comfort  to  their  parents,  a  blessing  to  the  world,  and 
capable  of  enjoying  life  in  the  highest  degree. 

But  suddenly  certain  manifestations  appeared  which 
gave  rise  to  grave  apprehensions  on  the  part  of  the 
parents.  It  was  observed  that  the  elder  of  the  little 
boys  no  longer  played  about  with  that  nimbleness  which 
he  had  formerly  shown,  but  seemed  slow  and  stiff  in 
his  movements.  Sometimes,  indeed,  he  would  stagger 
a  little  when  he  walked.  Soon,  also,  his  speech  be- 
came affected  in  some  degree;  he  mumbled  his  words, 
and  could  not  speak  distinctly.  In  spite  of  all  that 
could  be  done,  the  disease  continued,  increasing  slowly 
in  all  its  symptoms  from  week  to  week.  Soon  the  hands, 
also,  became  affected,  so  that  he  could  not  feed  him- 
self. The  mind  now  began  to  fail.  The  bright  eyes 
became  vacant  and  expressionless.  Instead  of  the 
merry  light  which  used  to  shine  in  them,  there  was  a 
blank,  idiotic  stare. 

Imagine  the  grief  and  anguish  of  the  poor  mother ! 
No  one  but  a  mother  who  has  been  called  to  pass 
through  a  similar  trial  could  know  how  to  sympathize 
with  such  a  one.  Her  darling  son  she  saw  daily  be- 
coming a  prey  to  a  strange,  incurable  malady,  with 
no  power  even  to  stay  the  progress  of  the  terrible 
disease. 

But  there  was  still  greater  grief  in  store  for  her. 
Within  a  year  or  two,  the  younger  son  began  to  show 
symptoms  of  the  same  character,  and  in  spite  of  all  that 
was  done,  rapidly  sank  into  the  same  helpless  state  as 
his  brother.  As  a  last  resort,  the  mother  took  her  boys, 
and  came  a  long  journey  to  place  them  under  our  care. 
At  that  time  they  were  both  nearly  helpless.    Neither 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  387 

could  walk  but  a  few  steps.  They  reeled  and  stag- 
gered about  like  drunken  men,  falling  down  upon  each 
other,  and  going  through  the  most  agonizing  contor- 
tions in  their  attempts  to  work  their  way  from  one 
chair  to  another  and  thus  about  the  room.  Their  heads 
were  no  longer  erect,  but  drooped  like  wilted  flowers. 
On  their  faces  was  a  blank,  imbecile  expression,  with 
few  traces  of  their  former  intelligence  left.  The  mouth 
was  open,  by  the  drooping  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  the 
saliva  constantly  dribbled  upon  the  clothing.  Alto- 
gether, the  sight  of  them  was  a  most  appalling  spec- 
tacle. 

"We  at  once  set  to  work  to  discover  the  cause  of  this 
dreadful  condition,  believing  that  such  an  awful  pun- 
ishment must  certainly  be  the  result  of  some  gross 
violation  of  nature's  laws  somewhere.  The  most  care- 
ful scrutiny  of  the  history  of  the  parents  of  the  un- 
fortunate lads  gave  us  no  clue  to  anything  of  a  hered- 
itary character,  both  parents  having  come  of  good 
families,  and  having  been  always  of  sober,  temperate 
habits.  The  father  had  used  neither  liquor  nor  tobacco 
in  any  form.  The  mother  could  give  no  light  on  the 
matter,  and  we  were  obliged  to  rest  for  the  time  being 
upon  the  conviction  which  fastened  itself  upon  us  that 
the  cases  before  us  were  most  marked  illustrations  of 
the  results  of  self-abuse  begun  at  a  very  early  age. 
The  mother  thought  it  impossible  that  our  suspicions 
could  be  correct,  sayihg  that  she  had  watched  her  sons 
with  jealous  care  from  earliest  infancy,  and  had  seen 
no  indications  of  any  error  of  the  sort.  But  we  had 
not  long  to  wait  for  confirmation  of  our  view  of  the 
case,  as  they  were  soon  caught  in  the  act,  to  which  it 
was  found  that  they  were  greatly  addicted,  and  the 
mystery  was  wholly  solved. 


388  PLAIN    FACTS   FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Every  possible  remedy  was  used  to  check  the  ter- 
rible disease  which  was  preying  upon  the  unfortunate 
boys,  but  in  vain.  At  times,  the  symptoms  would  be 
somewhat  mitigated,  and  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of 
the  fond,  watching  mother  would  be  excited,  but  in 
vain.  The  improvement  was  always  but  temporary, 
and  the  poor  sufferers  would  speedily  relapse  into  the 
same  dreadful  condition  again,  and  gradually  grow 
worse.  At  last,  the  poor  mother  was  obliged  to  give 
up  all  hope,  in  utter  despair  watching  the  daily  ad- 
vances of  the  awful  malady  which  inch  by  inch  de- 
stroyed the  life,  the  humanity,  the  very  mind  and  soul 
of  her  once  promising  sons.  Sadly  she  took  them  back 
to  her  Western  home,  there  to  see  them  suffer,  perhaps 
for  years  before  death  should  kindly  release  them,— 
the  terrible  penalty  of  sin  committed  almost  before 
they  had  arrived  at  years  of  responsibility. 

How  these  mere  infants  learned  the  vice,  we  were 
never  able  to  determine.  We  have  no  doubt  that  oppor- 
tunities sufficient  were  presented  them,  as  the  parents 
seemed  to  have  very  little  appreciation  of  danger  from 
this  source.  Had  greater  vigilance  been  exercised,  we 
doubt  not  that  the  discovery  of  the  vice  at  the  begin- 
ning would  have  resulted  in  the  salvation  of  these  two 
beautiful  boys,  who  were  sacrificed  upon  the  altar  of 
concupiscence.  Two  or  three  years  after  we  first  saw 
the  cases,  we  heard  from  them,  and  though  still  alive, 
their  condition  was  almost  too  horrible  for  description. 
Three  or  four  similar  cases  have  come  to  our  knowl- 
edge. 

Boys,  are  you  guilty?  Think  of  the  fearful  fate  of 
these  boys,  once  as  joyous  and  healthy  as  you.  When 
you  are  tempted  to  sin,  think  of  the  fearful  picture  of 
the  effects  of  sin  which  they  present.    Have  you  ever 


A    CHAPTER    FOR   BOYS  389 

once  dared  to  commit  this  awful  sin?  Stop,  never  dare 
to  do  the  thing  again.  Take  a  solemn  vow  before  God 
to  be  pure.  Your  fate  may  be  as  sad,  your  punishment 
as  terrible.  No  one  can  tell  what  the  results  may  be. 
Absolute  purity  is  the  only  safe  course. 

A  Prodigal  Youth.— A.  M.,  son  of  a  gentleman 
of  wealth  in  Ohio,  early  acquired  the  evil  practice 
which  has  ruined  so  many  bright  lads.  He  was  natu- 
rally an  intelligent  and  prepossessing  lad,  and  his 
father  gave  him  as  good  an  education  as  he  could  be 
induced  to  acquire,  affording  him  most  excellent  oppor- 
tunities for  study  and  improvement.  But  the  vile  habit 
which  had  been  acquired  at  an  early  age,  speedily 
began  its  blighting  influence.  It  destroyed  his  taste 
for  study  and  culture.  His  mind  dwelt  upon  low  and 
vile  subjects.  He  grew  restless  of  home  restraint  and 
surroundings,  and  finally  left  the  parental  roof.  Wan- 
dering from  city  to  city,  he  grew  rapidly  worse,  sink- 
ing into  deeper  depths  of  vice,  until  finally  he  became 
a  base,  besotted,  wretched  creature.  Broken  down  in 
health  by  his  sins,  he  could  no  longer  enjoy  even  the 
most  sensual  pleasures;  and  with  no  taste  for  or  capa- 
bility of  appreciating  anything  higher,  he  was  most 
wretched  indeed.  The  poor  fellow  then  fell  into  the 
hands  of  quacks.  His  kind  father  sent  him  money  in 
answer  to  his  pitiful  appeals  for  help,  and  he  went 
anxiously  from  one  to  another  of  the  wretched  vil- 
lains who  promise  relief  to  such  sufferers,  but  only 
rob  them  of  their  money,  and  leave  them  worse  than 
before. 

At  last,  in  total  despair  of  everything  else,  the  poor 
fellow  came  to  us.  He  seemed  quite  broken-hearted 
and  penitent  for  his  sins,  and  really  appeared  desirous 
of  leading  a  better  life  if  he  could  only  be  made  well 


390  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

again.  We  faithfully  pointed  out  to  him  the  dreadful 
wickedness  of  his  course,  and  the  fact  that  a  cure  could 
only  be  effected  by  the  most  implicit  obedience  to  all 
of  nature's  laws  during  his  whole  future  life.  Indeed, 
we  were  obliged  to  inform  him  of  the  sad  fact  that  he 
could  never  be  as  well  as  before,  that  he  must  always 
suffer  in  consequence  of  his  dreadful  course  of  trans- 
gression. We  gave  him  a  most  earnest  exhortation 
to  begin  the  work  of  reform  where  alone  it  could  be 
effectual,  by  reforming  his  heart;  and  the  tears  which 
coursed  down  his  sin-scarred  cheeks  seemed  to  indi- 
cate true  penitence  and  a  real  desire  to  return  to  the 
paths  of  purity  and  peace. 

Earnestly  we  labored  for  this  young  man,  for 
months  employing  every  means  in  our  power  to  lift 
him  from  the  slough  of  sin  and  vice  upon  the  solid 
pathway  of  virtue  and  purity  again.  Gradually  the 
hard  lines  on  his  face  seemed  to  lessen  in  intensity. 
The  traces  of  vice  and  crime  seemed  to  be  fading  out 
by  degrees.  We  began  to  entertain  hopes  of  his  ulti- 
mate recovery.  But,  alas !  in  an  evil  moment,  through 
the  influence  of  bad  companions,  he  fell,  and  for  some 
time  we  lost  sight  of  him.  A  long  time  afterward  we 
caught  a  glimpse  of  his  bloated,  sin-stained  face,  just 
as  he  was  turning  aside  to  avoid  recognition.  Where 
this  poor  human  wreck  is  now  leading  his  miserable 
existence  we  cannot  say,  but  have  no  doubt  he  is  haunt- 
ing the  dens  of  iniquity  and  sin  in  the  cities,  seeking  to 
find  a  little  momentary  pleasure  in  the  gratification 
of  his  appetites  and  passions.  A  hopeless  wreck,  with 
the  lines  of  vice  and  crime  drawn  all  over  his  tell-tale 
countenance,  he  dares  not  go  home,  for  he  fears  to 
meet  the  reproachful  glance  of  his  mother  and  the 
scornful  looks  of  his  brothers  and  sisters. 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  391 

We  never  saw  a  more  thoroughly  unhappy  creature. 
He  is  fully  conscious  of  his  condition.  He  sees  himself 
to  be  a  wreck,  in  mind,  in  body,  and  knows  that  he  is 
doomed  to  suffer  still  more  in  consequence  of  his  vices. 
He  has  no  hope  for  this  world  or  the  next.  His  mother 
gave  him  earnest,  pious  instructions,  which  he  has 
never  forgotten,  though  he  has  long  tried  to  smother 
them.  He  now  looks  forward  with  terror  to  the  fate 
which  he  well  knows  awaits  all  evil-doers,  and  shud- 
ders at  the  thought,  but  seems  powerless  to  enter  the 
only  avenue  which  affords  a  chance  of  escape.  He  is 
so  tormented  with  the  pains  and  diseased  conditions 
which  he  has  brought  upon  himself  by  vice,  that  he 
often  looks  to  self-destruction  as  a  grateful  means  of 
escape ;  but  then  comes  the  awful  foreboding  of  future 
punishment,  and  his  hand  is  stayed.  Ashamed  to  meet 
his  friends,  afraid  to  meet  his  Maker,  he  wanders  about, 
an  exile,  an  outcast,  a  hopeless  wreck. 

Young  man,  youth,  have  you  taken  the  first  step  on 
this  evil  road?  If  so,  take  warning  by  the  fate  of  this 
young  man.  At  once  "cease  to  do  evil  and  learn  to 
do  well,"  before,  like  him,  you  lose  the  power  to  do 
right,  before  your  will  is  paralyzed  by  sin  so  that 
when  you  desire  to  do  right,  to  reform,  your  will  and 
power  to  execute  your  good  determinations  fail  to 
support  your  effort. 

Barely  Escaped.— L.  R.,  of  H ,  a  young  man 

about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  presented  himself  for 
treatment,  a  few  years  ago,  for  the  consequences  of 
self -abuse.  Having  been  taught  the  habit  by  evil  com- 
panions when  just  merging  into  manhood,  he  had  in- 
dulged his  passions  without  restraint  for  several  years, 
not  knowing  the  evil  consequences  until  he  began  to 
suffer  the  effects  of  sin.     Then,  being  warned  by  his 


392  PLAIN    FACTS    EOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

own  experience,  and  by  the  fortunate  tliouglitfnlness 
of  an  intelligent  friend  who  surmised  his  condition  and 
told  him  faithfully  of  the  terrible  results  of  the  vile 
habit,  he  made  a  manly  effort  to  reform,  and  claimed 
to  have  wholly  broken  the  habit.  To  his  great  grief  he 
found,  however,  that  the  years  in  which  he  had  devoted 
himself  to  sin  had  wrought  sad  havoc  in  his  system.  In 
many  ways  his  health  was  greatly  deranged,  and  his 
once  powerful  constitution  was  broken  down.  The 
sexual  organs  themselves  were  greatly  diseased,  so 
much  so  that  a  serious  and  painful  surgical  operation 
was  necessary.  With  shame  and  mortification  he 
looked  upon  his  past  life,  and  saw  what  a  hideous  work 
of  evil  he  had  wrought.  His  vileness  stood  out  before 
him  in  a  vivid  light,  and  he  felt  ashamed  to  meet  the 
gaze  of  his  fellows. 

After  performing  the  necessary  surgical  operation 
upon  this  poor  unfortunate,  we  dealt  faithfully  with 
him,  pointing  out  to  him  the  way  by  which  he  might 
with  proper  effort  in  some  degree  redeem  himself  by 
a  lifelong  struggle  against  every  form  of  impurity. 
He  felt,  and  rightly,  that  the  task  was  a  most  severe 
one.  He  well  knew  that  the  stamp  of  sin  was  on  his 
countenance  and  in  his  mind.  Thoughts  long  allowed 
to  run  upon  vile  subjects,  forming  filthy  pictures  in 
the  imagination,  are  not  easily  brought  back  to  the 
channel  of  purity  and  virtue.  The  mind  that  has 
learned  to  love  to  riot  in  impure  dreams,  does  not 
readily  acquire  a  love  for  the  opposite.  But  he  deter- 
mined to  make  a  brave  and  earnest  effort,  and  we  have 
every  reason  to  believe  that  he  has,  in  a  measure  at 
least,  succeeded.  But,  if  so,  he  has  made  a  narrow 
escape.  A  few  more  years  of  sin,  and  his  rescue  would 
have  been  impossible ;  both  mind  and  body  would  have 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  393 

been  sunk  so  deep  in  the  mire  of  concupiscence  that 
nothing  but  Ahiiighty  power  could  have  saved  him 
from  utter  destruction. 

Thousands  of  boys  and  young  men  are  to-day  stand- 
ing on  the  slippery  brink  of  that  awful  precipice  from 
which  but  very  few  are  snatched  away.  Soon  they  will 
plunge  headlong  over  into  the  abyss  of  debasement  and 
corruption,  from  which  they  will  never  escape.  Oh, 
that  we  had  the  power  to  reach  each  one  of  these  un- 
fortunate youths  before  it  is  too  late,  and  to  utter  in 
their  ears  such  warnings,  to  portray  before  them  such 
pictures  of  the  sure  results  of  a  course  of  sin,  that  they 
might  be  turned  back  to  the  paths  of  chastity  and  vir- 
tue before  they  have  become  such  mental,  moral,  and 
physical  wrecks  as  we  every  day  encounter  in  the  walks 
of  life.  But  not  one  in  a  thousand  can  be  reached 
having  gone  so  far  in  sin.  When  they  have  ventured 
once,  they  can  rarely  be  checked  in  their  downward 
course  until  great  harm  has  been  wrought  which  will 
require  the  work  of  years  to  undo.  The  young  man 
we  have  referred  to  made  indeed  a  narrow  escape,  but 
no  one  can  safely  run  such  a  risk.  Even  he  must  suffer 
all  his  life  the  consequences  of  a  few  years  of  sin. 

A  Lost  Soul.— M.  M.,  of ,  was  the  son  of  a 

mechanic  in  humble  circumstances.  He  was  an  only 
child,  and  his  parents  spared  no  effort  in  their  power 
to  insure  his  becoming  a  good  and  useful  man.  Good 
school  advantages  were  given  him,  and  at  a  proper 
age  he  was  taught  a  trade.  He  succeeded  fairly,  and 
their  hopes  of  his  becoming  all  that  they  could  desire 
were  great,  when  he  suddenly  began  to  manifest  pecul- 
iar sjnnptoms.  He  had  attended  a  religous  revival, 
and  seemed  much  affected,  professing  religion  and  be- 
coming a  member  of  the  church.    To  the  exercises  of 


394  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

his  mind  on  the  subject  of  religion  his  friends  attrib- 
uted his  peculiar  actions,  which  soon  became  so  strange 
as  to  excite  grave  fears  that  his  mind  was  seriously 
affected.  At  times  he  was  wild,  showing  such  unmis- 
takable evidences  of  insanity  that  even  his  poor  mother, 
who  was  loth  to  believe  the  sad  truth,  was  forced  to 
admit  that  he  was  deranged. 

After  a  few  months  a  change  came  over  him,  which 
encouraged  his  friends  to  think  that  he  was  recovering. 
He  became  quiet  and  tractable,  never  manifesting  the 
furious  symptoms  before  observed.  But  the  deception 
was  only  temporary;  for  it  was  soon  evident  that  the 
change  was  simply  the  result  of  the  progress  of  the 
disease,  and  denoted  a  failure  of  the  mental  powers 
and  the  approach  of  imbecility.  In  this  condition  was 
the  young  man  when  he  came  under  our  care.  We  felt 
strongly  impressed  from  our  first  examination  of  the 
case  that  it  was  one  of  sexual  abuse;  but  we  were 
assured  by  his  friends  in  the  most  emphatic  manner 
that  such  was  an  impossibility.  It  was  claimed  that 
the  most  scrupulous  care  had  been  bestowed  upon  him, 
and  that  he  had  been  so  closely  watched  that  it  was 
impossible  that  he  should  have  been  guilty  of  so  gross 
a  vice.  His  friends  were  disposed  to  attribute  his  sad 
condition  to  excessive  exercise  of  mind  upon  religious 
subjects. 

Not  satisfied  with  this  view  of  the  case,  we  set  a 
close  watch  upon  him,  and  within  a  week  his  nurse 
reported  that  he  had  detected  him  in  the  act  of  self- 
pollution,  when  he  confessed  the  truth,  not  being  yet 
so  utterly  devoid  of  sense  as  to  have  lost  his  apprecia- 
tion of  the  sinfulness  of  the  act.  When  discovered,  he 
exclaimed,  * '  I  know  I  have  made  myself  a  fool, ' '  which 
was  the  exact  truth. 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  395 

At  this  time  the  once  bright  and  intelligent  youth 
had  become  so  obtuse  and  stupid  that  he  appeared 
almost  senseless.  His  face  wore  an  idiotic  expression, 
and  was  rarely  lighted  up  by  a  look  of  intelligence. 
It  was  only  by  the  greatest  exertion  that  he  could  be 
made  to  understand  or  to  respond  when  spoken  to.  In 
whatever  position  he  was  placed,  whether  lying,  sit- 
ting, or  standing,  no  matter  how  constrained  or  pain- 
ful, he  would  remain  for  hours,  staring  vacantly,  as 
fixed  and  immovable  as  a  statue.  His  countenance  was 
blank  and  expressionless,  except  at  rare  intervals.  His 
lips  were  always  parted,  and  the  saliva  ran  from  the 
corners  of  his  mouth  down  upon  his  clothing.  The 
calls  of  nature  were  responded  to  involuntarily,  con- 
stantly soiling  his  clothing  and  bedding  in  a  most 
disgusting  manner,  and  requiring  the  constant  atten- 
tion of  a  nurse  to  keep  him  in  anything  like  a  whole- 
some condition. 

We  did  what  we  could  to  relieve  this  poor  victim 
of  unhallowed  lust,  but  soon  became  convinced  that 
no  human  arm  could  save  from  utter  ruin  this  self- 
destroyed  soul.  At  our  suggestion  the  young  man  was 
removed,  to  be  placed  in  an  institution  devoted  to  the 
care  of  imbeciles  and  lunatics.  The  last  we  heard  of 
the  poor  fellow  he  was  still  sinking  into  lower  depths 
of  physical  and  mental  degradation,— a  soul  utterly 
lost  and  ruined. 

How  many  thousands  of  young  men  who  might 
have  been  useful  members  of  society,— lawyers,  cler- 
gymen, statesmen,  scientists,— have  thus  sunk  into  the 
foul  depths  of  the  quagmire  of  vice,  to  rise  no  more 
forever !  Oh,  awful  fate !  The  human  eye  never  rests 
upon  a  sadder  sight  than  a  ruined  soul,  a  mind  shat- 
tered and  debased  by  vice. 

24 


396  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

The  Results  of  One  Transgression.  —The  fol- 
lowing case  is  a  good  illustration  of  the  fact  that  a 
long  course  of  transgression  is  not  necessary  to  occa- 
sion the  most  serious  results.  A  young  man  from  an 
Eastern  State,  who  visited  us  for  treatment,  was  suf- 
fering from  the  usual  consequences  of  self-abuse;  but 
he  asserted  in  the  most  emphatic  manner  that  he  had 
never  committed  the  act  of  self-pollution  but  once  in 
his  life.  He  had,  however,  after  that  one  vile  act, 
allowed  his  mind  to  run  upon  vile  thoughts,  giving 
loose  rein  to  his  imagination,  and  in  consequence  he 
found  himself  as  bad  off,  sutf ering  with  the  very  same 
disorders,  as  those  who  had  practiced  the  vice  for 
some  time. 

Not  the  slightest  dallying  with  sin  is  safe.  The 
maintenance  of  perfect  purity  and  chastity  of  body 
and  mind  is  the  only  right  and  safe  course.  By  a  few 
months'  treatment  the  young  man  recovered  his  health 
in  a  great  measure,  and,  marrying  an  estimable  young 
lady,  settled  down  happily  in  life.  Many  tears  of  re- 
morse and  repentance  did  he  shed  over  that  one  sinful 
act,  and  bitterly  did  he  reproach  the  evil  companion 
who  taught  him  to  sin ;  but  he  was  fortunate  enough  to 
escape  without  suffering  the  worst  effects  of  the  sin, 
and  is  now  living  a  reformed  and  happy  life. 

A  Hospital  Case. — One  of  the  most  wretched 
creatures  we  ever  saw  among  the  many  sufferers  from 
sexual  excesses  which  we  have  met,  was  a  man  about 
thirty  years  of  age  whom  we  found  in  the  large  Charity 
Hospital  on  Blackwell's  Island,  New  York  City.  In 
consequence  of  long  indulgence  in  the  soul-and-body- 
destroying  habit,  he  had  brought  upon  himself,  not 
only  the  most  serious  and  painful  disease  of  the  sexual 
organs  themselves,  but  disease  of  the  bladder  and  other 


A   CHAPTER   FOR  BOYS  397 

adjacent  organs.  He  was  under  severe  and  painful 
treatment  for  a  long  time  without  benefit,  and  finally 
a  surgical  operation  was  performed,  but  with  the  re- 
sult of  affording  only  partial  relief. 

An  Old  Oflfender. —Never  were  we  more  aston- 
ished than  at  the  depth  of  depravity  revealed  to  us  by 
the  confessions  of  a  patient  from  a  distant  country  who 
was  upward  of  sixty  years  of  age,  and  was  yet  a  vic- 
tim of  the  vile  habit  to  which  he  had  become  addicted 
when  a  youth.  The  stamp  of  vice  was  on  his  face,  and 
was  not  hidden  by  the  lines  made  by  advancing  age. 
The  sufferings  which  this  ancient  sinner  endured  daily 
in  consequence  of  his  long  course  of  sin  were  sometimes 
fearful  to  behold;  and  yet  he  continued  the  habit  in 
spite  of  all  warnings,  advice,  and  every  influence  which 
could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  him.  So  long  had  he 
transgressed,  he  had  lost  his  sense  of  shame,  and  his 
appreciation  of  the  vileness  of  sin,  and  it  was  impos- 
sible to  reform  him  by  any  means  which  could  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  him.  He  left  us  still  a  sufferer, 
though  somewhat  relieved,  and  we  have  every  reason 
to  believe,  as  vile  a  sinner  as  ever.  Undoubtedly,  be- 
fore this  time  his  worthless  life  is  ended,  and  he  has 
gone  down  into  a  sinner's  grave,  hoary  with  vice,— 
a  terrible  end. 

The  Sad  End  of  a  Young  Victim,—  C,  L.,  a 
young  man  residing  in  a  large  Southern  city,  was  the 
youngest  son  of  parents  who,  though  in  moderate  cir- 
cumstances, appreciated  the  value  of  education,  and 
were  anxious  to  give  their  children  every  advantage 
possible.  With  this  end  in  view,  the  young  man  was 
sent  to  college,  where  he  did  well  for  a  time,  being 
naturally  studious  and  intelligent;  but  after  a  brief 
period  he  began  to  drop  behind  his  classes.    He  seemed 


398  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

moody  and  obtuse.  He  could  not  complete  his  tasks, 
even  by  the  most  severe  application.  It  seemed  impos- 
sible for  him  to  apply  himself.  The  power  of  concen- 
tration appeared  to  be  lost.  Soon  he  was  seized  with 
fits  of  gloominess  from  which  he  did  not  seem  to  have 
power  to  free  himself.  His  strength  began  to  fail  to 
such  a  degree  that  he  could  hardly  drag  himself  to  his 
meals,  and  at  last  he  was  almost  confined  to  his  room. 
He  became  greatly  emaciated.  The  failure  of  his 
mental  powers  seemed  to  keep  pace  with  the  wasting 
of  his  body,  so  that  it  was  soon  evident  that  he  must 
abandon  all  hope  of  pursuing  his  studies,  for  some 
time  at  least. 

His  case  being  brought  to  our  notice,  we  gave  him 
every  attention  possible,  and  spared  no  effort  to  rescue 
him  from  his  condition.  We  readily  perceived  the 
cause  of  his  troubles,  but  for  a  long  time  he  did  not 
acknowledge  the  truth.  At  last  he  confessed  that  he 
had  sinned  for  years  in  the  manner  suspected,  and  was 
suffering  the  consequences.  A  knowledge  of  his  guilt 
weighed  upon  him,  and  haunted  him  day  and  night. 
He  promised  to  reform ;  but  if  he  did,  it  was  too  late, 
for  the  wasting  disease  which  had  fastened  upon  him 
continued.  At  his  mother's  request  he  returned  to  his 
home,  and  a  few  weeks  later  we  received  the  awful  in- 
telligence that  he  had  ended  his  miserable  life  by  blow- 
ing out  his  brains  with  a  pistol.  Thus  tragically  ended 
the  career  of  this  young  man  who,  with  the  advantages 
afforded  him,  might  have  become  a  useful  member  of 
society.  In  total  despair  of  this  life  or  the  next,  he 
rashly  ended  his  probation,  and  with  his  own  hand 
finished  the  work  of  destruction  which  he  himself  had 
begun.  No  words  can  tell  the  grief  of  his  stricken 
mother;  but  fortunately,  she  was  spared  the  knowl- 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  399 

edge  of  the  whole  truth,  else  would  her  sorrow  have 
been  too  great  to  bear. 

From  Bad  to  "Worse.— C.  E.,  a  young  man  from 
the  West,  was  sent  to  us  by  his  father  with  the  request 
that  we  do  what  we  could  to  save  him.  His  father's 
letter  intimated  that  the  son  had  been  a  source  of 
grief  to  him,  but  he  hoped  that  he  had  repented  of  his 
prodigal  course,  and  was  really  determined  to  reform. 
Though  scarcely  more  than  twenty  years  of  age,  the 
young  man's  face  wore  an  aspect  of  hardness,  from 
familiarity  with  vice,  that  we  have  rarely  seen.  He 
was  reduced  to  a  mere  skeleton  by  the  vice  of  which 
he  made  no  secret,  and  was  so  weak  that  he  could 
scarcely  walk  a  rod.  It  seemed  as  if  every  organ  in 
his  body  was  diseased,  and  that  he  had  so  squandered 
his  vital  resources  that  he  had  no  power  to  rally  from 
his  wretched  condition,  even  should  he  carry  out  the 
determination  to  reform  which  he  announced.  How- 
ever, we  gave  him  the  best  counsel  and  advice  within 
our  power,,  and  placed  him  under  treatment.  After  a 
few  weeks  it  was  evident  that  nature  was  still  willing 
to  respond  to  his  endeavors  to  reform,  by  vigorous 
eiforts  to  restore  him  to  a  condition  of  comparative 
health.  Thus  he  was  snatched,  as  it  appeared,  from 
the  very  jaws  of  death.  Under  these  circumstances  it 
would  seem  that  the  most  hardened  criminal  would 
reform,  at  least  for  a  season,  and  lead  a  life  of  recti- 
tude; but  so  utterly  depraved  was  this  poor  wretch 
that  no  sooner  did  he  find  that  he  was  not  liable  to  die 
immediately  than  he  at  once  began  again  his  career  of 
sin.  By  long  indulgence  his  moral  sense  had  become 
apparently  obliterated.  He  seemed  to  be  utterly  with- 
out the  restraint  imposed  by  conscience.  In  less  than 
a  month  he  was  detected  in  the  crime  of  theft,  having 


400  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

stolen  a  watch  from  a  fellow-patient.  Upon  his  arrest, 
stimulated  by  the  hope  of  in  some  degree  mitigating 
his  punishment,  he  confessed  to  having  been  carrying 
on  a  series  of  petty  thieving  for  weeks  before  he  was 
finally  detected,  having  scores  of  stolen  articles  in  pos- 
session. The  last  time  we  saw  the  wretched  fellow  he 
was  being  led  away  in  irons  to  prison.  We  have  since 
heard  that  he  continues  in  his  downward  career,  having 
served  out  his  time  in  prison,  and  will  undoubtedly 
end  his  life  in  a  felon's  cell,  unless  he  is  shrewd  enough 
to  escape  his  just  deserts.  Having  lost  all  desire  to 
do  right,  to  be  noble,  pure,  and  good,  all  efforts  to  re- 
form and  restore  him  to  the  path  of  rectitude  were 
fruitless.  It  was  only  the  fear  of  impending  death 
that  caused  him  to  pause  for  a  few  days  in  his  criminal 
course. 

Young  man,  take  warning  by  this  sad  case;  enter 
not  the  pathway  of  vice.  Once  entered  upon,  it  is  not 
easily  left.  A  youth  who  once  gives  himself  up  to  sin, 
rarely  escapes  from  going  headlong  to  destruction. 

An  Indignant  Father.— A  case  came  to  our  knowl- 
edge through  a  gentleman  who  brought  his  daughter 
to  us  for  treatment  for  the  effects  of  self-abuse,  of  a 
father  who  adopted  a  summary  method  of  curing  his 
son  of  the  evil  practice.  Having  discovered  that  the 
lad  was  a  victim  of  the  vile  habit,  and  having  done  all 
in  his  power  by  punishment,  threats,  and  representa- 
.tions  of  its  terrible  effects,  but  without  inducing  him 
to  reform,  the  father,  in  a  fit  of  desperation,  seized 
the  sinful  boy,  and  with  his  own  hand„performed  upon 
him  the  operation  of  castration  as  he  would  have  done 
upon  a  colt.  The  boy  recovered  from  the  operation, 
and  was  of  course  effectually  cured  of  his  vile  habit. 
The  remedy  was  efficient,  though  not  justifiable.    Even 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   BOYS  401 

a  father  has  no  right  thus  to  mutiLate  his  own  son, 
though  we  must  confess  that  the  lad's  chances  for  be- 
coming a  useful  man  are  fully  as  good  as  they  would 
have  been  had  he  continued  his  course  of  sin. 

Disgusted  with  Life.— T.  A.  was  a  young  man  of 
promise,  the  son  of  ambitious  parents,  proud-spirited, 
and  without  respect  for  religion.  Wliile  still  quite 
young,  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  Government, 
and  after  a  time  rose  to  the  position  of  an  officer  in 
the  U.  S.  army.  Having  in  boyhood  acquired  the  habit 
of  self-abuse,  he  had  stimulated  his  passions  without 
restraint,  and  was  readily  led  still  farther  astray  by 
the  evil  companions  by  whom  he  was  surrounded.  He 
indulged  his  passions  in  every  way  and  on  every  occa- 
sion when  he  found  opportunity,  and  speedily  began  to 
feel  the  effects  of  his  vices.  Before  he  was  fully  aware 
of  his  condition,  he  found  himself  being  literally  de- 
voured by  one  of  the  vilest  of  all  diseases. 

The  malady  made  rapid  advances,  and  speedily  re- 
duced him  to  a  condition  of  almost  absolute  helpless- 
ness. He  was  obliged  to  obtain  a  furlough;  but  his 
vital  forces  were  so  nearly  exhausted  that  he  did  not 
rally,  even  under  skilful  treatment;  and  when  his  fur- 
lough expired,  he  was  still  in  the  same  pitiable  condi- 
tion. Getting  it  extended  for  a  time,  he  by  accident 
came  under  our  care,  and  by  the  aid  of  very  thorough 
treatment  he  was  in  a  measure  improved,  though  the 
progress  of  the  disease  was  simply  stayed.  When  ap- 
prised of  his  real  condition,  he  exhibited  much  agita- 
tion, walking  nervously  about  his  room,  and  finally 
exclaimed  that  he  was  utterly  disgusted  with  life  any- 
way, and  after  a  few  weeks  or  months  more  of  suffer- 
ing he  should  blow  his  brains  out,  and  end  his  misery. 
He  had  no  fears  of  death,  he  said;  and  we  presume 


402  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

that  he  could  not  imagine  it  possible  that  there  was 
any  greater  suffering  in  store  for  him  than  he  already 
endured. 

We  pitied  the  poor  fellow  from  the  bottom  of  our 
heart.  He  had  natural  qualities  which  ought  to  have 
made  him  distinguished.  He  might  have  risen  high  in 
the  world  of  usefulness.  Now  he  was  compelled  to 
look  back  upon  a  short  life  of  squandered  opportu- 
nities, a  pathway  stained  with  vice,  memories  of  vile 
debaucheries  which  had  wasted  his  youth  and  broken 
his  constitution.  Wretched  was  he,  indeed.  Notwith- 
standing his  vileness,  he  was  not  lost  to  shame;  for 
his  greatest  fear  was  that  his  friends  might  ascertain 
the  real  cause  of  his  sufferings,  to  conceal  which  he 
was  obliged  to  resort  to  all  sorts  of  subterfuges.  As 
soon  as  he  was  able  to  travel,  he  left  us,  with  little 
hope  for  this  world  and  none  for  the  next;  and  we 
have  heard  nothing  of  him  since. 

Scores  of  similar  cases  we  might  recount  in  detail, 
but  we  have  not  the  space  in  this  volume.  These  will 
suffice  to  give  the  young  reader  an  idea  of  the  terrible 
results  of  this  awful  vice  which  are  suffered  by  its 
victims.  We  have  not  dared  to  portray  in  these  pages 
one-half  the  misery  and  wretchedness  which  we  have 
seen  as  the  results  of  self-abuse  and  the  vices  to  which 
it  leads.  The  picture  is  too  terrible  for  young  eyes  to 
behold.  We  most  sincerely  hope  that  none  of  our 
readers  will  ever  have  to  suffer  as  we  have  seen  boys 
and  young  men  languish  in  misery  as  the  result  of 
their  own  transgression  of  the  laws  of  chastity.  We 
devote  the  remaining  pages  of  this  chapter  to  the 
consideration  of  some  of  the  causes  of  the  vice,  the 
avenues  that  lead  to  the  awful  sin  which  we  are  con- 
sidering, to  the  terrible  consequences  which  attend  it. 


A    CHAPTER    FOR   BOYS  403 

Bad  Company.— The  influence  of  evil  companion- 
ship is  one  of  the  most  powerful  agents  for  evil  against 
which  those  who  love  purity,  and  are  seeking  to  ele- 
vate and  benefit  their  fellowmen,  have  to  contend,  A 
bad  boy  can  do  more  harm  in  a  community  than  can 
be  counteracted  by  all  the  clergymen,  Sabbath-school 
teachers,  tract-distributers,  and  other  Christian  work- 
ers combined.  An  evil  boy  is  a  pest  compared  with 
which  the  cholera,  smallpox,  and  even  the  plague,  are 
nothing.  The  damage  which  would  be  done  by  a  ter- 
rific hurricane  sweeping  with  destructive  force  through 
a  thickly  settled  district  is  insignificant  compared  with 
the  evil  work  which  may  be  accomplished  by  one  vicious 
lad. 

No  community  is  free  from  these  vipers,  these 
agents  of  the  arch-fiend.  Every  school,  no  matter  how 
select,  contains  a  greater  or  less  number  of  these  young 
moral  lepers.  Often  they  pursue  their  work  unsus- 
pected by  the  good  and  pure,  who  do  not  dream  of  the 
vileness  pent  up  in  the  young  brains  which  have  not 
yet  learned  the  multiplication  table,  and  have  scarcely 
learned  to  read.  We  have  known  instances  in  which 
a  boy  seven  or  eight  years  of  age  has  implanted  the 
venom  of  vice  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  half  a  score 
of  pure-minded  lads  within  a  few  days  of  his  first  as- 
sociation with  them.  This  vice  spreads  like  wild-fire. 
It  is  more  ** catching"  than  the  most  contagious  dis- 
ease, and  more  tenacious,  when  once  implanted,  than 
the  leprosy. 

Boys  are  easily  influenced  either  for  right  or  wrong, 
but  especially  for  the  wrong;  hence  it  is  the  duty  of 
parents  to  select  good  companions  for  their  children, 
and  it  is  the  duty  of  children  to  avoid  bad  company 
as  they  would  avoid  carrion  or  the  most  loathsome 


404  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

object.  A  boy  with  a  matchbox  in  a  powder  magazine 
would  be  in  no  greater  danger  than  in  the  company 
of  most  of  the  lads  who  attend  our  public  schools  and 
play  upon  the  streets.  It  is  astonishing  how  early  chil- 
dren, esj^ecially  boys,  will  sometimes  learn  the  hideoiis, 
shameless  tricks  of  vice  which  yearly  lead  thousands 
down  to  everlasting  death.  Often,  children  begin  their 
course  of  sin  while  yet  cradled  in  their  mother's  arms, 
thus  early  taught  by  some  vile  nurse.  Boys  that  fight 
and  swear,  that  play  upon  the  streets  and  disobey  their 
parents,  may  be  wisely  shunned  as  unfit  for  associates. 
In  many  instances,  however,  boys  whose  conduct  is  in 
other  respects  wholly  faultless,  sometimes  indulge  in 
vice,  ignorant  of  its  real  nature  and  consequences. 

At  the  first  intimation  of  evil  on  the  part  of  a  com- 
panion, a  boy  who  is  yet  pure  should  flee  away  as  from 
a  deadly  serpent  or  a  voracious  beast.  Do  not  let  the 
desire  to  gratify  morbid  curiosity  deter  you  from  flee- 
ing at  once  from  the  source  of  contamination.  Under 
such  circumstances,  do  not  hesitate  a  moment  to  escape 
from  danger.  If  an  evil  word  is  spoken,  or  an  indecent 
act  of  any  sort  indulged  in  by  a  companion,  cut  the  ac- 
quaintance of  such  a  boy  at  once.  Never  allow  yourself 
to  be  alone  with  him  for  a  moment.  On  no  account  be 
induced  to  associate  with  him.  He  will  as  surely  soil 
and  besmear  with  sin  your  moral  garments  as  would 
contact  with  the  most  filthy  object  imaginable  stain 
your  outer  garments. 

It  were  better  for  a  boy  never  to  see  or  associate 
with  a  lad  of  his  own  age  than  to  run  any  risk  of  being 
corrupted  before  he  is  old  enough  to  appreciate  the 
terrible  enormity  of  sin,  and  the  awful  consequences 
of  transgression.  It  should  be  recollected,  also,  that 
not  only  young  boys,  but  vicious  youths  and  young 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    BOYS  405 


men  are  frequently  tlie  instructors  in  vice.  It  is  un- 
safe to  trust  any  but  those  who  are  known  to  be  pure. 

Bad  Language.— We  have  often  been  astonished 
at  the  facility  with  which  children  acquire  the  language 
of  vice.  Often  we  have  been  amazed  to  hear  little  boys 
scarcely  out  of  their  cradles,  lisping  the  most  horrible 
oaths  and  the  vilest  epithets.  The  streets  and  alleys 
in  our  large  cities,  and  in  smaller  ones  also,  in  a  less 
degree,  are  nurseries  of  vice,  in  which  are  reared  the 
criminals  that  fill  our  jails,  prisons,  workhouses,  school- 
ships,  and  houses  of  correction.  Many  a  lad  begins  his 
criminal  education  by  learning  the  language  of  vice 
and  sin.  At  first  he  simply  imitates  the  evil  utterances 
of  others;  but  soon  he  learns  the  full  significance  of 
the  obscene  and  filthy  language  which  he  hears  and 
repeats,  and  then  he  rapidly  progresses  in  the  down- 
ward road. 

A  boy  that  indulges  in  the  use  of  foul  language, 
will  not  long  be  chaste  in  acts.  A  safe  rule  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  those  who  wish  to  grow  up  pure  and  un- 
sullied by  sin,  untainted  by  vice,  is  that  those  who  use 
bad  language  are  persons  to  be  avoided.  Keep  away 
from  them.  Even  those  who  are  well  fortified  against 
vice,  who  have  been  faithfully  warned  of  its  conse- 
quences and  fully  appreciate  its  dangers,  cannot  be 
safely  trusted  to  associate  with  vile  talkers.  The  use 
of  bad  language  by  old  and  young  is  an  evil  of  great 
degree.  It  is  too  often  ignored ;  too  little  is  said  about 
it ;  far  too  often  it  is  regarded  as  of  little  consequence ; 
and  persons  who  are  really  not  bad  at  heart,  thought- 
lessly encourage  the  evil  by  listening  to  and  laughing 
at  obscene  and  ribald  jokes,  and  impure  language 
which  ought  to  make  a  virtuous  man  blush  with  shame 
to  hear. 


406  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

Boys,  if  you  want  to  be  pure,  if  you  wish  to  be 
loved  by  a  pure  mother,  an  innocent  sister,  and  when 
you  are  grown  to  manhood  to  be  worthy  of  the  confi- 
dence of  a  pure,  virtuous  wife,  keep  your  lips  pure; 
never  let  a  vile  word  or  an  indecent  allusion  pass 
them.  Never,  under  any  circumstances,  give  utter- 
ance to  language  that  you  would  blush  to  have  your 
mother  overhear.  If  you  find  yourself  in  the  com- 
pany of  persons  whose  language  will  not  bear  this 
test,  escape  as  soon  as  possible,  for  you  are  in  dan- 
ger; your  sense  of  what  is  right  and  proper  in  speech 
is  being  vitiated;  you  are  being  damaged  in  many 
ways. 

Bad  Books.— A  bad  book  is  as  bad  as  an  evil  com- 
panion. In  some  respects  it  is  even  worse  than  a  living 
teacher  of  vice,  since  it  may  cling  to  an  individual  at 
all  times.  It  may  follow  him  to  the  secrecy  of  his 
bed-chamber,  and  there  poison  his  mind  with  the  venom 
of  evil.  The  influence  of  bad  books  in  making  bad 
boys  and  men  is  little  appreciated.  Few  are  aware 
how  much  evil  seed  is  being  sown  among  the  young 
everywhere  through  the  medium  of  vile  books.  It  is 
not  only  the  wretched  volumes  of  obscenity,  of  which  so 
many  thousands  have  been  seized  and  destroyed  by 
Mr.  Comstock,  that  are  included  under  the  head  of  bad 
books,  and  which  corrupt  the  morals  of  the  young,  and 
lead  them  to  enter  the  road  to  infamy;  but  the  evil 
literature  which  is  sold  in  "dime  and  nickel  novels," 
and  which  constitutes  the  principal  part  of  the  con- 
tents of  such  papers  as  the  Police  Gazette,  the  Police 
Neivs,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  sensational  story 
books  which  flood  the  land,  and  too  many  of  which  find 
their  way  into  town  and  circulating  libraries,  and  even 
Sunday-school  libraries,  which  are  rarely  selected  with 


A   CHAPTER   FOR  BOYS  407 

the  care  that  should  be  exercised  in  the  selection  of 
reading-matter  for  the  young. 

Bad  books  often  find  their  way  even  where  evil 
companions  would  not  intrude,  and  undoubtedly  effect 
a  work  of  evil  almost  as  great  as  is  wrought  by  bad 
associations. 

Look  out,  boys,  for  the  tempter  in  this  guise.  If  a 
companion  offers  you  a  book  of  a  suspicious  character, 
take  it  home  to  your  father,  your  mother,  or  some 
reliable  older  friend,  for  examination.  If  it  is  handed 
to  you  with  an  air  of  secrecy,  or  if  a  promise  to  keep 
it  hidden  from  others  is  required,  have  nothing  to  do 
with  it.  You  might  better  place  a  coal  of  fire  or  a  live 
\aper  in  your  bosom,  than  to  allow  yourself  to  read 
such  a  book.  The  thoughts  that  are  implanted  in  the 
mind  in  youth  will  stick  there  through  life,  in  spite  of 
all  efforts  to  dislodge  them.  Hundreds  of  men  who 
have  been  thus  injured  when  young,  but  have  by  some 
providence  escaped  a  life  of  vice  and  shame,  look  back 
with  most  intense  regret  to  the  early  days  of  child- 
hood, and  earnestly  wish  that  the  pictures  then  made 
in  the  mind  by  bad  books  might  be  effaced.  Evil  im- 
pressions thus  formed,  often  torture  the  mind  during 
a  whole  lifetime.  In  the  most  inopportune  moments 
they  will  intrude  themselves.  When  the  individual 
desires  to  place  his  mind  undividedly  upon  sacred  and 
elevated  themes,  even  at  the  most  solemn  moments  of 
life,  these  lewd  pictures  will  sometimes  intrude  them- 
selves in  spite  of  his  efforts  to  avoid  them.  It  is  an 
awful  thing  to  allow  the  mind  to  be  thus  contaminated ; 
and  many  a  man  would  give  the  world,  if  he  possessed 
it,  to  be  free  from  the  horrible  incubus  of  a  defiled 
imagination. 

Vile  Pictures. —For  leading  boys  astray,  obscene 


408  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

and  lascivious  pictures  are  influences  which  are  too 
important  to  be  unnoticed.  Evil  men,  agents  of  the 
arch-fiend,  have  adopted  all  sorts  of  devices  for  put- 
ting into  the  hands  of  the  boys  and  youth  of  the  rising 
generation  pictures  calculated  to  excite  the  passions, 
to  lead  to  vice.  Thousands  of  these  vile  pictures  are 
in  circulation  throughout  the  country,  in  spite  of  the 
worthy  efforts  of  such  philanthropists  as  Mr.  Anthony 
Comstock  and  his  co-laborers.  In  almost  every  large 
school  there  are  boys  who  have  a  supply  of  these  in- 
famous designs,  and  act  as  agents  in  scattering  the  evil 
contagion  among  all  who  come  under  their  influence. 

Under  the  guise  of  art,  the  genius  of  some  of  our 
finest  artists  is  turned  to  pandering  to  this  base  desire 
for  sensuous  gratification.  The  j^ictures  which  hang 
in  many  of  our  art  galleries,  that  are  visited  by  old 
and  young  of  both  sexes,  often  number  in  the  list  views 
which,  to  those  whose  thoughts  are  not  well  trained  to 
rigid  chastity,  are  productive  of  evil.  A  plea  may 
be  made  for  these  paintings  in  the  name  of  art;  but 
we  see  no  necessity  for  the  development  of  art  in  this 
particular  direction,  when  nature  presents  so  many  and 
such  varied  scenes  of  loveliness  in  landscapes,  flowers, 
beautiful  birds,  and  graceful  animals,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  human  form  protected  by  sufficient  covering  to 
satisfy  the  demands  of  modesty. 

Many  of  the  papers  and  magazines  sold  at  our 
news-stands,  and  eagerly  sought  after  by  young  men 
and  boys,  are  better  suited  for  the  parlors  of  a  house 
of  ill-repute  than  for  the  eyes  of  pure-minded  youth. 
A  news-dealer  who  will  distribute  such  vile  sheets, 
ought  to  be  dealt  with  as  an  educator  in  vice  and 
crime,  an  agent  of  evil,  and  a  recruiting  officer  for  hell 
and  perdition. 


A   CHAPTER   FOR  BOYS  409 

Evil  Thoug^hts.  —No  one  can  succeed  long  in  keep- 
ing liimself  from  vicious  acts  whose  thoughts  dwell 
upon  unchaste  subjects.  Only  those  who  are  pure  in 
heart  will  be  pure  and  chaste  in  action.  The  mind 
must  be  educated  to  love  and  dwell  upon  pure  subjects 
in  early  life,  as  by  this  means  only  can  the  foundation 
be  laid  for  that  purity  of  character  which  alone  will 
insure  purity  of  life.  "When  the  mind  once  becomes 
contaminated  with  evil  thoughts,  it  requires  the  work 
of  years  of  earnest  effort  to  purge  it  from  uncleanness. 
Vile  thoughts  leave  scars  which  even  time  will  not 
always  efface.  They  soil  and  deprave  the  soul,  as  vile 
acts  degrade  the  body.  God  knows  them^  if  no  human 
being  does;  and  if  harbored  and  cherished,  they  will 
tell  against  the  character  in  the  day  of  Judgment  as 
surely  as  will  evil  words  and  deeds^ 

Influence  of  Other  Bad  Habits.— Evil  practices 
of  any  sort  which  lower  the  moral  tone  of  an  individual, 
which  lessen  his  appreciation  of  and  love  for  right 
and  purity  and  true  nobility  of  soul,  encourage  the 
development  of  vice.  A  boy  who  loves  purity,  who  has 
a  keen  sense  of  what  is  true  and  right,  can  never  be- 
come a  vicious  man.  Profanity,  falsehood,  and  decep- 
tion of  every  sort,  have  a  tendency  in  the  direction  of 
vice. 

The  use  of  highly  seasoned  food,  of  rich  sauces, 
spices  and  condiments,  sweetmeats,  and  in  fact  all 
kinds  of  stimulating  foods,  has  an  undoubted  influence 
upon  the  sexual  nature  of  boys,  stimulating  those  or- 
gans into  too  early  activity,  and  occasioning  tempta- 
tions to  sin  which  otherwise  would  not  occuro  The  use 
of  mustard,  pepper,  pepper-sauce,  spices,  rich  gravies, 
and  all  similar  kinds  of  food,  should  be  carefully 
avoided  by  young  persons.     They  are  not  wholesome 


410  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

for  either  old  or  young;  but  for  the  young  they  are 
absolutely  dangerous. 

The  use  of  beer,  wine,  hard  cider,  and  tobacco,  is 
especially  damaging  to  boys  on  this  account.  These 
stimulants  excite  the  passions,  and  produce  a  clamor- 
ing for  sensual  gratification  which  few  boys  or  young 
men  have  the  will-power  or  moral  courage  to  resist. 
Tobacco  is  an  especially  detrimental  agent.  The  early 
age  at  which  boys  now  begin  the  use  of  tobacco  may 
be  one  reason  why  the  practice  of  secret  vice  is  becom- 
ing so  terribly  common  among  boys  and  young  men. 
We  consider  a  boy  or  young  man  who  uses  tobacco 
liable  to  the  commission  of  some  vile  act. 

The  use  of  tea  and  coffee  by  boys  is  also  a  practice 
which  should  be  interdicted.  All  wise  physicians  for- 
bid the  use  of  these  narcotic  drinks,  together  with  that 
of  tobacco,  and  always  with  benefit  to  those  who  ab- 
stain. In  France,  the  government  made  a  law  forbid- 
ding the  use  of  tobacco  by  students  in  the  public  schools. 
In  Germany,  a  still  more  stringent  law  was  made,  for- 
bidding the  use  of  tobacco  by  boys  and  young  men. 
These  laws  were  considered  necessary  on  account  of 
the  serious  injury  which  was  evidently  resulting  from 
the  use  of  the  filthy  weed  to  both  the  health  and  the 
morals  of  the  young  men  of  those  countries.  There  is 
certainly  an  equal  need  for  such  a  law  in  this  country. 

Closing  Advice  to  Boys  and  Young  Men.— One 
word  more,  and  we  must  close  this  chapter,  which  we 
hope  has  been  read  with  care  by  those  for  whom  it  is 
especially  written.  Let  every  boy  who  peruses  these 
pages,  remember  that  the  facts  here  stated  are  true. 
Every  word  we  have  verified,  and  we  have  not  written 
one-half  that  might  be  said  upon  this  subject.  Let  the 
boy  who  is  still  pure,  who  has  never  defiled  himself 


QUEEN  LOUISE  AND  HER  SONS 


411 


412-a 


JOSEPH 


412-b 


HEROD 


A   CHAPTER   FOR  BOYS  413 


w'ln  vice,  firmly  resolve  that  with  the  help  of  God  he 
will  maintain  a  pure  and  virtuous  character.  It  is 
much  easier  to  preserve  purity  than  to  get  free  from 
the  taint  of  sin  after  having  been  once  defiled.  Let 
the  boy  who  has  already  fallen  into  evil  ways,  who 
has  been  taught  the  vile  practice,  some  of  the  conse- 
quences of  which  we  have  endeavored  to  describe,  and 
who  is  already  in  the  downward  road,— let  him  resolve 
now  to  break  the  chain  of  sin,  to  reform  at  once,  and 
to  renounce  his  evil  practice  forever.  The  least  hesi- 
tancy, the  slightest  dalliance  with  the  demon  vice,  and 
the  poor  victim  will  be  lost.  Now,  this  moment,  is  the 
time  to  reform.  Seek  purity  of  mind  and  heart.  Ban- 
ish evil  thoughts  and  shun  evil  companions ;  then  with 
earnest  prayer  to  God,  wage  a  determined  battle  for 
purity  and  chastity  until  the  victory  is  wholly  won. 

One  of  the  greatest  safeguards  for  a  boy  is  implicit 
trust  and  confidence  in  his  parents.  Let  him  go  to 
them  with  all  his  queries,  instead  of  to  some  older 
boyish  friend.  If  all  boys  would  do  this,  an  immense 
amount  of  evil  would  be  prevented.  Wlien  tempted  to 
sin,  think  first  of  the  vileness  and  wickedness  of  the 
act;  think  that  God  and  pure  angels  behold  every  act, 
and  even  know  every  thought.  Nothing  is  hid  from 
their  eyes.  Think,  then,  of  the  awful  results  of  this 
terrible  sin,  and  fly  from  temptation  as  from  a  burning 
house.  Send  up  a  prayer  to  God  to  deliver  you  from 
temptation,  and  you  will  not  fall.  Every  battle  man- 
fully and  successfully  fought,  will  add  new  strength 
to  your  resolution,  and  force  to  your  character.  Gain- 
ing such  victories  from  day  to  day,  you  will  grow  up 
to  be  a  pure,  noble,  useful  man,  the  grandest  work  of 
God,  and  will  live  a  happy,  virtuous  life  yourself,  and 
add  to  the  happiness  of  those  around  you. 

25 


A  CHAPTER  FOR  YOUNG  MEN 


AT  about  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  the  lad  begins 
to  assume  the  characteristics  of  the  young  man. 
The  shoulders  broaden,  the  voice  deepens,  a 
rapid  growth  in  height  and  an  increase  in  weight  occurs, 
and  slight  symptoms  of  a  beard  make  their  appearance. 
The  physiological  changes  which  take  place  in  the  body 
at  this  time  are  of  serious  import,  and  exert  a  pro- 
found influence  upon  all  parts  of  the  body.  The  sexual 
functions,  which  have  heretofore  been  wholly  placid, 
provided  the  individual  has  been  reared  normally,  now 
become  more  active,  as  indicated  by  the  increased 
development  of  the  organs.  There  is  not,  necessarily, 
however,  any  functional  activity  or  excitement  of  the 
sexual  system.  If  projjerly  educated,  and  surrounded 
by  the  proper  influences,  a  boy  of  this  age  will  know 
nothing  of  the  overwhelming  excitements  of  the  sexual 
functions;  and  for  some  years  longer,  these  organs 
are  by  nature  intended  to  remain  passive,  ■»".o  natural 
demand  for  their  use  occurring  until  after  the  body 
has  attained  full  maturity. 

Unfortunately,  however,  the  natural  order  of  things 
is  too  frequently  interfered  with  through  the  influence 
of  evil  companions,  and  the  majority  of  boys  become 
more  or  less  contaminated  morally  long  before  this 
period.  Fortunate,  indeed,  is  the  boy  who  at  the  attain- 
ment of  puberty  has  acquired  no  form  of  sexual  vice. 
The  nature  of  these  vices,  and  the  manner  in  which 
they  have  been  acquired,  has  been  fully  considered  in 

4U 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   YOUNG   MEN  415 

another  chapter.  The  facts  there  stated,  need  not  here 
be  recapitulated. 

It  is  important,  however,  to  emphasize  the  fact  that 
at  this  period  the  natural  development  of  the  sexual 
organs  renders  them  peculiarly  liable  to  excitement, 
and  hence  those  who  have  up  to  this  time  been  so  for- 
tunate as  to  escape  the  acquirement  of  any  evil  prac- 
tice, are  now  liable  to  make  the  fatal  discovery,  which, 
may  be  the  means  of  causing  their  physical  and  moral 
ruin.  Hence  it  is  important  for  parents  to  set  about 
their  boys  at  this  time  the  most  careful  safeguards, 
to  warn  them  of  the  evils  they  are  likely  to  encounter, 
and  by  good  counsel  to  fortify  them  against  the  tempta- 
tions they  are  sure  to  meet.  It  is  also  important  for 
young  men  who  are  passing  through  this  dangerous 
epoch  of  life  to  appreciate,  as  they  are  very  apt  not 
to  do,  the  dangers  which  threaten  them,  and  the  impor- 
tance of  receiving  and  implicitly  obeying  the  good 
counsel  of  parents  and  wise  friends,  which  superior 
experience  is  capable  of  imparting. 

Pure  Manners. —One  of  the  greatest  safeguards 
against  the  dangers  surrounding  this  critical  period  is 
that  sensitiveness  to  grossness  and  vulgarity  which,  is 
the  result  of  the  cultivation,  from  earliest  childliood,  of 
purity  of  manners.  A  boy  who  has  been  accustomed 
to  indulge  in  vulgar,  gross,  obscene,  or  profane  lan- 
guage is  very  likely  to  fall  into  evil  practices;  while 
a  boy  who  has  always  cultivated  gentlemanly  manners, 
purity  of  speech,  etc.,  will,  on  the  other  hand,  be  very 
unlikely  to  yield  to  the  temptations  which  are  thrown 
about  him. 

Irreligion.— The  lad  who  scoffs  at  religion,  who 
presumes  to  mock  at  piety,  who  has  no  interest  in  the 
Sabbath-school,   and  who   attends  church  only  when 


416  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

compelled  to  do  so,  is  in  a  fair  way  to  become  addicted 
to  all  sorts  of  iniquities.  Probably  tliere  is  not  one 
in  a  hundred  among  boys  of  this  class  who  does  not 
become  addicted  to  some  form  of  vice.  Religion  is  the 
best  of  all  safeguards  against  these  debasing  vices,  as 
well  as  all  other  forms  of  sin,  and  no  young  man  can 
afford  to  begin  his  career  in  life  without  the  aid  to  be 
afforded  by  genuine  religion;  and  of  all  helps  which 
can  be  obtained,  religious  influences,  through  the  Sab- 
bath-school, church,  etc.,  are  the  greatest. 

The  growing  disregard  for  religion  among  young 
men  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  features  of  the 
time,  and  this  tendency  accounts  in  part  for  the  almost 
universal  prevalence  of  sexual  vices  among  young  men 
of  the  present  day. 

Wrong  Ideas  about  "Women.— From  what  the 
author  has  learned  through  conversation  with  hundreds 
of  young  men  who  have  been  under  his  professional 
care,  he  is  convinced  that  most  of  them  entertain  a 
very  incorrect  idea  respecting  young  women.  While 
there  are  undoubtedly  many  exceptions,  it  is  certainly 
true  that  among  the  better  class  of  refined  and  culti- 
vated ladies,  the  sexual  passions  are  comparatively 
dormant.  The  young  man  who  allows  his  sexual  pas- 
sions to  predominate  his  thoughts  and  to  a  large  extent 
his  conduct,  is  wholly  in  error  in  thinking  the  average 
woman  is  a  creature  after  his  own  sort. 

The  author  has  met  several  instances  in  which  he 
had  every  reason  to  believe  that  young  women  who  had 
been  led  from  the  path  of  virtue  had  not  been  actuated 
by  the  desire  for  sexual  gratification,  but  were  led 
astray  through  a  desire  to  please  those  who  had  won 
their  affections. 

There  are,  of  course,  plenty  of  young  women  whose 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   YOUNG    MEN  417 

minds  and  manners  have  been  corrupted  by  evil  asso- 
ciations, and  this  class  are  undoubtedly  responsible  for 
the  grossly  incorrect  estimate  which  most  young  men 
form  of  the  character  of  young  women ;  and  these  young 
women  have  undoubtedly  led  into  vice  many  young 
men  who  otherwise  might  have  escaped.  Certainly, 
young  men  must  not  be  charged  with  being  the  only 
emissaries  of  vice.  A  good  many  cases  have  come  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  author  in  which  "hired  girls" 
of  "loose  morals"  have  led  into  evil  ways  boys  just 
approaching  manhood,  who  had  previously  been  wholly 
ignorant  of  vice. 

Sowing  "Wild  Oats.— A  vast  deal  of  harm  comes 
through  the  opinion  prevalent  in  the  world  that  a 
young  man  may  *  *  sow  his  wild  oats ' '  for  a  few  months 
or  a  few  years  without  doing  himself  very  much  harm, 
and  without  lessening  his  chances  for  success  in  life. 
The  fact  that  hundreds  of  young  men  do  run  wild  for 
awhile,  going  into  all  sorts  of  wickedness,  frequenting 
the  saloon  and  gambling  table,  and  the  lowest  haunts 
of  vice,  and  yet  are  received  back  into  good  society, 
if  indeed  they  are  not  all  the  while  recognized  as  * '  real 
good  fellows,"  though  unfortunately  a  little  "fast," 
and  placed  on  equal  footing  with  those  who  have  never 
gone  astray,  is  no  excuse  for  such  a  course.  Indeed, 
there  are  plenty  of  women  who  express  a  decided  pref- 
erence for  these  fast  young  men,  and  consider  a  mod- 
erate degree  of  wickedness  as  quite  an  accomplishment, 
rather  than  a  shame  and  a  disgrace,  as  it  should  be  to 
every  intelligent  and  pure-minded  woman. 

The  young  man  who  imagines  he  can  sow  wild  oats 
even  for  a  brief  period  without  suffering  serious  injury 
will  find  himself  greatly  mistaken  if  he  makes  the 
attempt.    Let  him  consider  before  he  begins  this  evil 


418  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 


course  that  a  single  act  of  sin  may  costhim  a  life  of 
wretchedness,  morally  and  physically.  Every  physi- 
cian of  experience  has  seen  plenty  of  cases  in  which 
the  first  act  of  sexual  indulgence  was  the  means  of  the 
contraction  of  some  horrible  disease  which  resulted  in 
the  total  blighting  for  life  of  all  prospects  for  hap- 
piness. 

The  mental,  moral,  and  physical  scars  accompany- 
ing a  fast  life,  even  though  continued  but  a  short  time, 
are  often  ineradicable,  and  are  carried  by  the  patient 
through  a  life  of  bitter  repentance. 

Another  fact  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  think 
lightly  on  this  subject:  Steps  taken  in  the  direction 
of  a  sensual  life  are  not  easily  retraced.  The  libertine, 
after  he  has  once  started  in  a  career  of  vice,  frequently 
forgets  his  resolutions  to  reform  after  a  brief  period 
of  self-indulgence,  and  plunges  deeper  and  deeper  into 
vice,  until  all  desire  for  reformation  has  been  dissi- 
pated, or  until  the  power  to  reform  is  at  last  totally 
paralyzed.  No  truer  words  were  ever  uttered  than  those 
of  the  wise  man:  *'As  for  him  that  wanteth  under- 
standing, she  saith  to  him:  stolen  waters  are  sweet, 
and  bread  eaten  in  secret  is  pleasant.  But  he  knoweth 
not  that  the  dead  are  there;  and  that  her  guests  are 
in  the  depths  of  helL" 

Getting  Married.— The  majority  of  young  women 
expect,  sooner  or  later,  to  marry.  Many  are  in  too 
much  of  a  hurry  to  consummate  the  most  important 
of  all  the  acts  of  their  lives,  and  rush  into  matrimony 
as  though  it  were  a  matter  of  the  most  trifling  conse- 
quence. Marriage  is  not  regarded  with  that  respect 
which  the  sacredness  of  this  Heaven-born  institution 
properly  demands.  The  ease  by  which  divorces  can  be 
obtained  has  undoubtedly  contributed  much  to  the  hasty 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   YOUNG   MEN  419 

manner  in  which  this  step  is  taken,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  some  means  may  be  devised  by  which  this  grow- 
ing evil  may  be  checked. 

We  do  not  propose  to  offer  a  long  homily  on  the 
subject  of  marriage,  but  have  a  few  words  of  advice 
which  may  possibly  be  of  service. 

1.  Be  careful  to  prepare  for  marriage  by  making 
yourself  worthy  of  a  good,  pure  woman.  Cultivate 
honesty,  sincerity,  and  purity  of  thought  and  manners, 
and  a  generous  variety  of  those  graces  and  qualities 
which  serve  to  make  up  a  good  and  useful  man. 

2.  Do  not  allow  yourself  to  be  captivated  by  fine 
clothes  and  a  pretty  face,  or  a  piquant  manner  and  an 
artful  smile.  All  these  qualities  are  superficial,  and 
not  correct  guides  to  form  an  estimate  of  character. 
Seek  real  moral  worth,  real  solidity  of  character,  genu- 
ineness, sincerity,  faithfulness,  and  simplicity.  These 
are  qualities  which  will  form  a  firm,  substantial  basis 
for  genuine  affection. 

3.  Avoid  a  young  woman  devoted  to  fashion;  who 
finds  her  chief  enjoyment  in  balls,  theaters,  and  fash- 
ionable dissipation.  Young  women  of  this  class  are 
in  a  state  of  ill  health  mentally  and  morally,  and  usually 
physically,  and  are  utterly  deficient  in  the  qualities 
essential  to  the  making  of  a  good  wife. 

4.  We  may  also  suggest  the  importance  of  health, 
of  physical  and  mental  adaptation,  of  proper  relation 
as  regards  age;  but  these  are  all  points  which  will 
readily  occur  to  the  mind  of  any  young  man  possessed 
of  a  fair  share  of  good  judgment  and  common  sense, 
and  need  not  be  dwelt  upon  here. 

The  Young  Husband.— After  you  have  married 
a  lady  and  pledged  yourself  in  the  most  solemn  man- 
ner to  love,  cherish,  and  protect  her,  see  to  it  that  you 


420  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

never  forget  your  marriage  vow.  Too  many  young 
men  take  a  wife  as  they  would  buy  a  horse,  or  any 
other  piece  of  property,  and  imagine  that  as  soon  as 
the  ceremony  is  over,  the  young  woman  becomes  their 
private  property,  and  that  they  are  at  liberty  to  do 
what  they  please.  Every  husband  should  recollect  that 
marriage  gives  him  no  proprietorship  over  his  wife. 
Marriage  is  simply  a  contract  between  two  individuals, 
who  agree  to  work  in  harmony  for  each  other 's  mutual 
advancement  and  interest.  Each  one  solemnly  pledges 
to  protect  the  rights  and  regard  the  interests  of  the 
other. 

Think  of  this,  young  man,  and  regulate  your  con- 
duct accordingly.  First  of  all,  make  up  your  mind 
that  you  will  not  make  a  beast  of  yourself.  Too  many 
young  men  behave  themselves  in  such  a  beastly  man- 
ner during  the  first  week  of  their  married  life  that  they 
forfeit  all  right  to  the  respect  of  their  wives,  and  not 
infrequently  a  young  woman  who,  previous  to  marriage, 
regarded  her  affianced  as  the  embodiment  of  all  that 
is  good  and  pure  and  noble,  has  her  mental  and  moral 
sensibilities  so  shocked  by  gross  and  brutal  behavior 
as  soon  as  the  marriage  ceremony  has  placed  her  in 
his  power,  that  her  love  for  him  is  totally  exhausted, 
and  often  so  effectively  that  it  can  never  be  resuscitated. 

Bear  this  fact  in  mind,  young  man.  Curb  your 
passions.  Control  your  propensities,  and  years  hence 
you  will  look  back  upon  your  conduct  with  a  satisfaction 
which  will  increase  your  self-respect,  and  as  you  reflect 
upon  the  matter,  the  wealth  of  a  Eothschild  would  not 
purchase  from  you  the  satisfaction  of  thinking  that 
you  acted  the  part  of  a  man,  rather  than  that  of  a  beast. 

The  brutal  conduct  of  husbands,  even  on  the  first 
night  of  marriage,  not  infrequently  entails  upon  their 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   YOUNG    MEN  421 

Wives  a  lifetime  of  suffering.  Such  individuals  are 
quite  unworthy  the  name  of  men.  They  are  fit  only  to 
be  classed  with  the  rakes  who  violate  defenseless  vir- 
gins, and  treat  women  as  though  they  were  made  for 
no  other  purpose  than  the  gratification  of  the  beastly 
propensities  of  brutal  men. 

If  you  have  a  good  wife,  cherish  her,  behave  your- 
self in  such  a  way  as  to  command  her  esteem  and  re- 
spect; and  you  may  be  sure  she  will  be  true  to  you, 
and  the  happiness  she  may  bring  to  you  will  more  tha^ 
compensate  for  the  pains  you  can  take  to  cultivate  her 
love  and  her  respect.  A  great  share  of  the  infelicity 
of  married  people  grows  out  of  the  fact  that  as  soon 
as  the  honejTnoon  is  past,  and  often  immediately  after 
the  ceremony  is  over,  they  cease  to  act  like  men  and 
women,  and  begin  to  conduct  themselves  like  children. 
In  consequence,  they  soon  lose  their  respect  for  each 
other,  and  all  sorts  of  disagreements  and  diificulties 
arise.  Always  conduct  yourself  in  such  a  way  that 
you  will  be  sure  not  to  lose  the  respect  of  your  wife, 
and  you  will  thereby  gain  in  self-respect,  and  will  also 
have  the  esteem  and  respect  of  your  fellowmen. 


A  CHAPTER  FOR  OLD  MEN 


WHEN  lias  a  man  readied  that  age  at  which  he 
may  be  said  to  be  an  old  man?  There  is  a 
wonderful  difference  in  individuals  relative 
to  the  period  at  which  symptoms  of  decline  make  their 
appearance,  much  being  due  to  previous  habits  of  life, 
as  well  as  individual  peculiarities  and  hereditary  pre- 
disposition. It  may  be  said,  however,  that  the  aver- 
age man  enters  upon  that  portion  of  his  life  usually 
denominated  as  old  age,  at  about  the  age  of  fifty  years. 
At  this  period  his  physical  powers  begin  to  show  evi- 
dence of  decline.  His  reserve  fund  of  vitality,  which 
is  considerably  less  than  at  an  earlier  age,  may  still  be 
sufficient  to  enable  his  system  to  perform  all  the  func- 
tions of  life  with  regularity,  but  he  is  unable  to  endure 
hardships  as  in  previous  years,  and  suffers  sensibly 
whenever  any  extreme  demand  is  made  upon  his 
vitality. 

He  is  a  wise  man  who  at  this  period  of  life,  while 
his  vital  functions  are  still  well  performed,  and  the 
system  subject  to  no  special  disease  or  debility,  recog- 
nizes the  fact  that  he  is  no  longer  young,  and  regulates 
himself  accordingly.  Such  a  man  will  lay  down  as 
his  rule  of  life  the  greatest  moderation  in  everything 
demanding  vital  expenditure,  and  will  resolutely  set  his 
face  against  every  form  of  unnecessary  expenditure 
of  vitality. 

A  Dangerous  Waste.— As  has  been  pointed  out 
elsewhere  in  this  work,  the  exercise  of  the  sexual  func- 

422 


423 
''All  time  and  money  spent  in  training  the  body,  pays  a  higher  interest  than  any 
other  investment/'— G/a^sf Of  e. 


C  orrec*- 


i.  orrect. 


EVERY- DAY  ERRORS  THAT  SHORTEN  LIFE 


A   CHAPTER   FOE   OLD   MEN  425 

tion  is  accompanied  by  the  most  exhausting  expendi- 
ture of  nervous  and  vital  energy  of  which  the  body  is 
capable.  Such  expenditures  are  entirely  unnecessary 
to  the  health  of  the  body,  and  hence  it  is  evident  that 
at  this  period  of  life,  when  the  vital  forces  should  be 
in  every  way  economized,  such  indulgences  should  be 
discontinued. 

Physiology,  on  this  account,  prohibits  the  marriage 
of  old  men  with  young  women  and  old  women  with 
young  men.  An  old  man  who  forms  a  union  with  a 
young  girl  scarce  out  of  her  teens,  or  even  younger, 
can  scarcely  have  any  very  elevated  motive  for  his 
action,  and  he  certainly  exposes  himself  to  the  greatest 
risk  of  sudden  death,  while  insuring  his  premature 
decay.  A  king  once  characterized  such  a  course  as 
"the  pleasantest  form  of  suicide."  It  is  doubtless  sui- 
cidal ;  but  we  suspect  there  are  some  phases  of  such  an 
unnatural  union  which  are  not  very  enjoyable. 

One  reason  of  the  great  danger  of  such  marriages 
to  the  old  is  the  exhaustive  effects  of  the  sexual  act. 
As  previously  noted,  in  some  animals  it  causes  imme- 
diate death.  Dr.  Acton  makes  the  following  pertinent 
remarks : 

*'So  serious,  indeed,  is  the  paroxysm  of  the  nervous 
system  produced  by  the  sexual  spasm,  that  its  immedi- 
ate effect  is  not  always  unattended  with  danger,  and 
men  with  weak  hearts  have  died  in  the  act.  Every  now 
and  then  we  learn  that  men  are  found  dead  on  the 
night  of  their  wedding." 

''However  exceptional  these  cases  are,  they  are 
warnings,  and  should  serve  to  show  that  an  act  which 
may  destroy  the  weak  should  not  be  tampered  with, 
even  by  the  strong. ' ' 

**  There  are  old  men  who  marry  young  wives,  and 


426  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

who  pay  the  penalty  by  becoming  martyrs  to  paralysis, 
softening  of  the  brain,  and  driveling  idiocy." 

Dr.  Gardner  quotes  the  Abbe  Maury  as  follows:  "I 
hold  as  certain  that  after  fifty  years  of  age  a  man  of 
sense  ought  to  renounce  the  pleasures  of  love.  Each 
time  that  he  allows  himself  this  gratification  is  a  pellet 
of  earth  thrown  upon  his  coffin." 

Dr.  Gardner  further  says:  ''Alliances  of  this  sort 
have  taken  place  in  every  epoch  of  humanity,  from  the 
time  of  the  patriarchs  to  the  present  day,  alliances  re- 
pugnant to  nature,  between  men  bordering  on  decrepi- 
tude and  poor  young  girls,  who  are  sacrificed  by  their 
parents  for  position,  or  who  sell  themselves  for  gold. 
There  is  in  these  monstrous  alliances  something  which 
we  know  not  how  to  brand  sufficiently  energetically,  in 
considering  the  reciprocal  relations  of  the  pair  thus 
wrongfully  united,  and  the  lot  of  children  which  may 
result  from  them.  Let  us  admit,  for  an  instant,  that 
the  marriage  has  been  concluded  with  the  full  consent 
of  the  young  girl,  and  that  no  external  pressure  has 
been  exerted  upon  her  will, — as  is  generally  the  rule, 
• — it  will  none  the  less  happen  that  reflection  and  ex- 
perience will  tardily  bring  regrets,  and  the  sharper, 
as  the  evil  will  be  without  remedy ;  but  if  compulsion, 
or  what  is  often  the  same  thing,  persuasion,  had  been 
employed  to  obtain  the  consent  which  the  law  demands, 
the  result  would  have  been  more  prompt  and  vehement. 
From  this  moment,  the  common  life  becomes  odious 
to  the  unhappy  victim,  and  culpable  hopes  will  arise 
in  her  desolate  heart,  so  heavy  is  the  chain  she  carries. 
In  fact,  the  love  of  the  old  man  becomes  ridiculous  and 
horrid  to  her,  and  we  cannot  sufficiently  sympathize 
with  the  unfortunate  person  whose  duty  (?)  it  is  to 
submit  to  it.    If  we  think  of  it  an  instant,  we  shall 


A  CHAPTER  FOR   OLD   MEN"  427 

perceive  a  repulsion  such  as  is  only  inspired  by  the  idea 
of  incest.  ...  So  what  do  we  of  tenest  observe  1  Either 
the  woman  violently  breaks  the  cursed  bands,  or  she 
resigns  herself  to  them,  and  then  seeks  to  fill  up  the 
void  in  her  soul  by  adulterous  amours.  Such  is  the 
somber  perspective  of  the  sacrilegious  unions  which 
set  at  defiance  the  most  respectable  instincts,  the  most 
noble  desires,  and  the  most  legitimate  hopes.  Such, 
too,  are  the  terrible  chastisements  reserved  for  the 
thoughtlessness  or  foolish  pride  of  these  dissolute  gray- 
beards,  who  prodigalize  the  last  breath  of  their  life  in 
search  of  depraved  voluptuousness." 

The  parents,  the  perpetrators  of  such  an  outrage 
against  nature,  are  not  the  only  sufferers.  Look  at  the 
children  which  they  bring  into  the  world!  Let  Dr. 
Gardner  speak  again: 

''Children,  the  issue  of  old  men,  are  habitually 
marked  by  a  serious  and  sad  air  spread  over  their 
countenances,  which  is  manifestly  very  opposite  to  the 
infantile  expression  which  so  delights  one  in  the  little 
children  of  the  same  age  engendered  under  other  condi- 
tions. As  they  grow  up,  their  features  take  on  more 
and  more  the  senile  character,  so  much  so  that  every 
one  remarks  it,  and  the  world  regards  it  as  a  natu- 
ral thing.  The  old  mothers  pretend  that  it  is  an  old 
head  on  young  shoulders.  They  predict  an  early  death 
to  these  children,  and  the  event  frequently  justifies 
the  horoscope.  Our  attention  has  for  many  years  been 
fixed  upon  this  point,  and  we  can  affirm  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  offspring  of  these  connections  are  weak, 
torpid,  lymphatic,  if  not  scrofulous,  and  do  not  prom- 
ise a  long  career." 

In  old  age,  the  seminal  fluid  becomes  greatly  de- 
teriorated.   Even  at  the  best,  its  component  elements 


428  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

could  only  represent  decrepitude  and  infirmity,  degen- 
eration and  senility.  In  view  of  such  facts,  says  Dr. 
Acton : 

"We  are  therefore  forced  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  children  of  old  men  have  an  inferior  chance  of  life ; 
and  facts  daily  observed  confirm  our  deductions.  Look 
but  at  the  progeny  of  such  marriages ;  what  is  its  value ! 
As  far  as  I  have  seen,  it  is  the  worst  kind— spoilt  child- 
hood, feeble  and  precocious  youth,  extravagant  man- 
hood, early  and  premature  death." 

Cicero  on  Old  Age.— Cicero,  in  his  essay  on  Old 
Age,  makes  the  following  remarks,  bearing  directly  on 
this  subject: 

"Another  charge  against  old  age  is  that  it  deprives 
us  of  sensual  gratifications.  Happy  effect,  indeed,  to  be 
delivered  from  those  snares  which  allure  youth  into 
some  of  the  worst  vices!  'Reason,'  said  Archytas,  'is 
the  noblest  gift  which  God  or  nature  has  bestowed  on 
man.  Now  nothing  is  so  great  an  enemy  to  that  divine 
endowment  as  the  pleasures  of  sense ;  for  neither  tem- 
perance, nor  any  of  the  more  exalted  virtues,  can  find 
place  in  that  breast  which  is  under  the  dominion  of 
voluptuous  passions.  Imagine  yourself  a  man  in  the 
actual  enjoyment  of  the  highest  gratifications  mere 
animal  nature  is  capable  of  receiving ;  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  during  his  continuance  in  that  state,  it  would 
be  utterly  impossible  for  him  to  exert  any  one  power  of 
his  rational  faculties.'  The  inference  I  draw  from  this 
is,  that  if  the  principles  of  reason  and  virtue  have  not 
proved  sufficient  to  inspire  us  with  proper  contempt  for 
mere  sensual  pleasures,  we  have  cause  to  feel  grateful 
to  old  age  for  at  last  weaning  us  from  appetites  it  would 
ill  become  us  to  gratify;  for  voluptuous  passions  are 
bitter  enemies  to  all  the  nobler  faculties  of  the  soul; 


A  CHAPTER   FOR   OLD   MEN  429 

they  hold  no  communion  with  the  manly  virtues,  and 
they  cast  a  mist  before  the  eye  of  reason.  The  little 
relish  which  old  age  leaves  for  enjojntnents  merely 
sensual,  instead  of  being  a  disparagement  to  that  period 
of  life,  considerably  enhances  its  value." 

Says  Parise,  a  distinguished  French  physician,  in 
his  work  on  old  age: 

"Love,  at  the  decline  of  life,  should  take  quite  a 
moral  character,  freed  from  all  its  animal  propensities. 
In  the  elderly  man,  it  is  paternal,  conjugal,  patriotic 
attachment,  which,  without  being  so  energetic  as  the 
love  experienced  in  youth,  still  warms  old  hearts  and 
old  age;  and,  believe  me,  these  have  their  sweet  privi- 
leges, as  well  as  sometimes  their  bitter  realities.  These 
autumn  roses  are  not  without  perfume;  perhaps  less 
intoxicating  than  that  arising  from  first  love,  but  pre- 
senting none  of  its  dangers. 

**  Unfortunately,  there  are  those  who,  either  more 
infatuated,  more  helplessly  drifting  on  the  tide  of  pas- 
sion, or  more  depraved,  use  all  their  endeavors  to 
realize  desires  which  it  is  no  longer  possible  to  satisfy, 
unless  by  a  forced  compliance  of  the  organs.  Not  only 
has  the  energy,  the  superfluous  vitality  of  early  days, 
disappeared,  but  the  organic  power  of  reproduction  is 
nearly  obliterated.  Is  all  over  then!  Credat  Judaeus, 
non  ego.  It  is  now  that  Venus  Impudica  lavishes  on  her 
used-up  votaries  her  appetizing  stimulants  to  vice  and 
debauchery.  The  imagination,  polluted  with  impuri- 
ties, seeks  pleasure  which  reason  and  good  sense  re- 
pudiate. There  are  instances  of  debauched  and  shame- 
less old  age  which,  deficient  in  vital  resources,  strives 
to  supply  their  place  by  fictitious  excitement ;  a  kind  of 
brutish  lasciviousness,  that  is  ever  the  more  cruelly 
punished  by  nature,  from  the  fact  that  the  immediately 


430  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD  AND   YOUNG 


ensuing  debility  is  in  direct  proportion  to  the  forced 
stimulation  which  has  preceded  it. 

''Reduced  to  the  pleasures  of  recollection,  at  once 
passionate  and  impotent,  their  sensuality  may  5:ill,  but 
cannot  satiate.  There  are  such  old  libertines  i  vho  are 
constantly  seeking  after  the  means  of  revivifyi]  ig  their 
withered,  used-up  organism,  as  if  that  were  ]  )ossible 
without  imminent  danger.  The  law  of  nature  is  ^v^ithout 
appeal.  To  submit  to  it  is  the  result  of  good,  sound 
judgment,  and  the  reward  is  speedy.  But  sul  mission 
is  no  invariable  rule,  and  persons  of  prudence  and 
chastity  have  but  a  faint  conception  of  the  devices  to 
evade  it,  of  the  folly,  caprice,  luxury,  immodesty,  the 
monstrous  lewdness  and  indescribable  saturnalia  of  the 
senses  which  are  the  result.  The  surgeon  pione  knows 
from  the  confession  of  his  patients,  or  srrmises  from 
his  experience,  to  what  a  depth  corruptir^i  will  descend, 
and  the  evils  which  will  follow,  particularly  in  large 
capitals.  One  of  the  mot-t  common,  means  of  excitement 
employed  by  these  senile  Lovelaces  is  change,  variety 
in  the  persons  they  pursue.  "V^Hiat  is  more  fatal  to  the 
organism?  Extreme  youth  is  sacrificed  to  these  shame- 
less old  men.  The  full-blown  charms  of  fine  women  no 
longer  suffice;  they  address  themselves  to  mere  chil- 
dren, to  the  great  scandal  of  our  manners,  and  of  all 
that  these  victims  of  debauchery  hold  dear  and  sacred. 
Nevertheless,  let  it  be  remarked,  it  is  seldom,  very  sel- 
dom, that  punishment  comes  pede  claudo;  old  age, 
which  disease  changes  every  day  into  decrepitude— 
often  sudden  death,  and  death  that  lasts  for  years,  a 
consequence  of  cruel  infirmities— proves  the  justice  of 
nature. ' ' 

A  distinguished  physician  speaks  upon  this  same 
subject  as  follows: 


A  CHAPTER  FOR   OLD   MEN"  431 

''"WTien  a  young  man,  without  any  redeeming  qual- 
ities, has  run  through  a  career  of  debauchery,  when  his 
adult  age  is  but  a  new  lease  of  similar  associations,  the 
necessity  for  additional  excitement  appears  to  goad 
him  on.  Fictitious  desires  increase,  until  it  is  impos- 
sible to  say  where  shall  be  his  acme  of  debauchery,  or 
what  devices  may  be  invented  by  those  in  his  pay  'to 
minister  to  a  mind  diseased.'  This  is  particularly  the 
case  when  such  a  pampered,  ill-directed,  unrestrained 
will  is  accompanied  by  unlimited  wealth.  For  such  a 
one,  youth,  innocence,  and  beauty  soon  cease  to  have 
attraction.  "Well  has  it  been  said  of  him,  that  'the 
beast  has  destroyed  the  man,'  Variety  may  for  a 
time  satisfy  or  stimulate  his  failing  powers,  but  not 
for  very  long.  Local  stimulants  are  tried,  and,  after 
a  short  repetition,  these  also  fail.  As  a  last  resource, 
unnatural  excitement  is  brought  to  bear,  and  now  pub- 
lic decency  is  forgotten,  and  we  probably  find  that  the 
first  check  to  the  lust  of  the  opulent  satyr  is  his  find- 
ing himself  the  hero  of  some  filthy  police  case,— then, 
maybe,  a  convict  or  a  voluntary  exile. 

**As  schoolboys,  we  may  have  been  accustomed  to 
laugh  at  the  fables  of  the  grotesque  sylvan  monsters  of 
antiquity,  ignorant  of  what  hideous  truths  of  human 
nature  their  half-animal  forms  were  the  symbols.  Even 
after  sad  experience  has  enlarged  our  knowledge  of  the 
possibilities  of  vice,  few  of  us,  happily,  have  any  idea  of 
how  completely  these  bestial  forms  of  ancient  art  rep- 
resent the  condition  of  the  satyrs  who  so  notoriously 
affect  the  seclusion  and  the  shade  of  the  parks  and 
gardens  in  modern  cities.  I  question  if  a  prison  is  the 
proper  place  for  such  debased  individuals.  As  far  as 
I  have  noticed  their  organization,  I  should  say  an  un- 
controlled giving  way  to  the  sexual  passion  has  used 

26 


432  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

up  a  frame  never  very  strong.  A  constant  drain  on 
the  nervous  power  has  produced  an  effect  which  ren- 
ders its  subject  indifferent  to  consequences,  provided 
his  all-absorbing  pursuit,  namely,  ministering  to  the 
excitement  of  his  sexual  passion,  can  be  indulged  in. 
Doubtless,  in  many  instances,  the  brain  has  become 
affected,  particularly  when  there  exists  a  strong  heredi- 
tary tendency  to  disease.  This,  together  with  deficiency 
of  occupation,  has  caused  many  of  these  victims  to  their 
own  feelings  to  make  the  pandering  to  their  vile  desires, 
and  gratification  of  every  sensuality  their  imagination 
can  devise,  the  chief  occupation  of  life.  The  medical 
man  would  hardly  feel  justified  in  certifying  their  fit- 
ness for  a  lunatic  asylum,  as  in  all  other  respects  their 
conduct  appears  to  be  sane.  Observing,  as  these  per- 
sons do,  all  the  other  usual  convenances  of  society, 
there  is  yet  something  about  them  which  marks  them 
as  thralls  of  a  debasing  pursuit.  It  is  an  error,  how- 
ever, to  sujDpose  that  they  often  suffer  from  venereal 
disease.  Your  old  debauches  know  too  well  the  parties 
they  have  to  deal  with,  and  every  precaution  is  taken 
to  avoid  the  consequences.  They  are  living  and  suffer- 
ing specters  whom,  as  some  clever  writer  has  observed, 
'Death  seems  to  forget  to  strike,  because  he  Relieves 
them  already  in  the  tomb.' 

"It  may,  perhaps,  be  thought  singular  in  my  sug- 
gesting a  moral  based  upon  such  vile  practices  as  the 
above,  but  allusion  to  them  may  not  be  without  benefit 
to  those  beginning  life;  and  I  would  say,  Let  those 
persons  take  warning  who  with  an  active  imagination 
once  enter  upon  a  career  of  vice,  and  dream  that  at  a 
certain  spot  they  can  arrest  their  progress.  It  is  an 
old  tale,  and  often  told,  that,  although  the  slope  of 
criminality  be  easy  and  gradual,  it  is  still  le  premier 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   OLD   MEN  433 

pas  qui  coute;  and  he  who  launches  himself  on  such 
a  course  will  acquire,  as  he  goes,  velocity  and  force, 
until  at  last  he  cannot  he  stayed." 

From  quite  extensive  observation,  the  author  has 
no  doubt  that  a  large  number  of  the  inconveniences  of 
advanced  age,  mental  and  physical,  as  well  as  numer- 
ous local  difficulties,  including  bladder  disorders  and 
irritability  of  the  prostate,  etc.,  are  frequently  the  re- 
sult of  sexual  excesses,  not  only  during  middle  life, 
but  continued  during  advanced  years.  The  following 
incident  speaks  for  itself: 

A  Case  in  Point.— Some  time  ago  a  man  of  some 
prominence  in  the  legal  profession  sought  an  interview 
with  the  author.  An  hour  was  fixed,  and  at  the  time 
appointed  he  presented  himself  at  the  office,  and  after 
a  few  preliminary  remarks,  made  the  following  state- 
ment :  "I  have  been  a  man  of  great  physical  vigor,  and 
for  many  years  have  devoted  myself  with  great  ear- 
nestness to  my  profession,  and  with  most  satisfactory 
results.  I  have  suffered  very  little  from  bodily  infir- 
mities of  any  sort,  until  a  few  years  back.  Some  four  or 
five  years  ago  I  began  to  experience  discomfort  in  the 
region  of  what  I  supposed  to  be  the  neck  of  the  blad- 
der, requiring  me  to  relieve  the  bladder  very  fre- 
quently, both  during  the  daytime  and  in  the  night.  I 
sought  relief  by  various  means,  but  unsuccessfully,  and 
had  come  to  the  belief  that  I  was  suffering  with  some 
serious  disease  of  the  bladder  or  the  prostate.  Reme- 
dies addressed  to  these  organs  did  no  good.  I  obtained 
a  copy  of  one  of  your  works  [an  early  edition  of  this 
work],  and  found  out  the  cause  of  my  troubles.  I  am 
now  between  fifty  and  sixty  years  of  age.  From  mere 
force  of  habit,  I  had  continued  indulging  myself  sexu- 
ally as  in  early  life,  never  thinking  of  the  possibility  of 


434  PLAIN    FACTS    FUR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

harm,  just  as  I  supposed  most  men  did.  Wliile  read- 
ing your  work,  I  became  convinced  that  this  was  the 
cause  of  my  suffering,  particularly  as  I  at  once  re- 
called that  my  suffering  was  greatly  aggravated  by 
indulgences  of  this  sort,  and  that  when  an  absence 
from  home  for  some  time  necessitated  abstinence,  most 
of  the  sjTnptoms  disappeared.  I  at  once  adopted  the 
principle  of  total  abstinence  which  you  recommend  to 
men  of  my  age,  and  with  most  gratifying  results.  I 
had  thought  to  employ  your  services  as  a  physician, 
but  find  myself  entirely  well,  and  not  in  need  of  treat- 
ment. ' ' 

Other  cases  of  the  same  sort  might  be  recounted. 
Undoubtedly  there  are  thousands  of  elderly  men  suf- 
fering in  a  similar  way  from  the  same  cause. 


A  CHAPTER  FOR  GIRLS 


WE  liave  written  this  chapter  especially  for 
girls,  and  we  sincerely  hope  that  many  will 
read  it  with  an  earnest  desire  to  be  benefited. 
The  subject  of  which  we  have  to  write  is  a  delicate 
one,  and  one  which  we  regret  exceedingly  needs  to  be 
written  about.  But  experience  as  a  physician  has 
proved  to  us  again  and  again  that  it  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  something  be  said,  that  words  of  warn- 
ing should  be  addressed  particularly  to  the  girls  and 
maidens  just  merging  into  womanhood,  on  a  subject 
which  vitally  concerns  not  only  their  own  future  health 
and  happiness,  but  the  prosperity  and  destiny  of  the 
race.  Probably  no'  one  can  be  better  fitted  to  speak  on 
this  subject  than  the  physician.  A  physician  who  has 
given  careful  attention  to  the  health  and  the  causes 
of  ill-health  of  ladies,  and  who  has  had  opportunities 
for  observing  the  baneful  influence  exerted  upon  the 
bodies  and  minds  of  girls  and  young  women  by  the  evil 
practices  of  which  it  is  our  purpose  here  to  speak,  can 
better  appreciate  than  can  others  the  magnitude  of  the 
evil,  and  is  better  prepared  to  present  the  subject 
understandingly  and  authoritatively.  Gladly  would 
we  shun  the  task  long  avoided,  but  which  has  been 
pressed  upon  us  by  the  sense  of  the  urgent  need  of 
which  our  professional  experience  has  thoroughly  con- 
vinced us.  We  cannot  keep  our  lips  closed  when  our 
eyes  are  witnesses  to  the  fact  that  thousands  of  the 
fairest  and  best  of  our  girls  and  maidens  are  being 

435 


436  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

beguiled  into  everlasting  ruin  by  a  soul-destroying 
vice  which  works  unseen,  and  often  so  insidiously 
that  its  results  are  unperceived  until  the  ruin  is 
complete. 

The  nature  of  the  subject  necessitates  that  we  should 
speak  plainly,  though  delicately,  and  we  shall  endeavor 
to  make  our  language  comprehensible  by  any  one  old 
enough  to  be  benefited  by  the  perusal  of  this  chapter. 
We  desire  that  all  who  read  these  pages  may  receive 
lasting  benefit  by  so  doing.  The  subject  is  one  upon 
which  every  girl  ought  to  be  informed,  and  to  which 
she  should  give  serious  attention,  so  as  to  become 
intelligent  concerning  the  evils  and  dangers  to  which 
girls  are  exposed  from  this  source. 

Girlhood. —Nothing  is  so  suggestive  of  innocence 
and  purity  as  the  simple  beauty  of  girlhood  when  seen 
in  its  natural  freshness,  though  too  seldom,  nowadays, 
is  it  possible  to  find  in  our  young  girls  the  natural  grace 
and  healthy  beauty  which  were  common  among  the  little 
maidens  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago.  The  ruddy 
cheeks,  bright  eyes,  and  red  lips,  which  are  indicative 
of  a  high  degree  of  healthy  vigor,  are  not  so  often  seen 
to-day  as  formerly  among  the  small  girls  in  our  public 
schools,  and  passing  to  and  fro  upon  the  streets.  The 
pale  cheeks,  languid  eyes,  and  almost  colorless  lips 
which  we  more  often  see,  indicate  weakly  constitutions 
and  delicate  health,  and  prophesy  a  short  and  suffer- 
ing life  to  many.  Various  causes  are  at  work  to  pro- 
duce this  unfortunate  decline;  and  while  we  hope  that 
in  the  larger  share  of  cases,  bad  diet,  improper  cloth- 
ing, confinement  in  poorly  ventilated  rooms  with  too 
little  exercise,  and  similar  causes,  are  the  active  agents, 
we  are  obliged  to  recognize  the  fact  that  there  is  in 
far  too  many  cases  another  cause,  the  very  mention  of 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  437 

which  makes  us  blush  with  shame  that  its  existence 
should  be  possible. 

Eeal  girls  are  like  the  opening  buds  of  beautiful 
flowers.  The  beauty  and  fragrance  of  the  full-blos- 
somed rose  scarcely  exceeds  the  delicate  loveliness  of 
the  swelling  bud  which  shows  between  the  sections  of 
its  bursting  calyx  the  crimson  petals  tightly  folded 
beneath.  So  the  true  girl  possesses  in  her  sphere  as 
high  a  degree  of  attractive  beauty  as  she  can  hope  to 
attain  in  after  years,  though  of  a  different  character. 
But  genuine  girls  are  scarce.  Really  natural  little  girls 
are  almost  as  scarce  as  real  boys.  Too  many  girls 
begin  at  a  very  early  age  to  attempt  to  imitate  the 
pride  and  vanity  manifested  by  older  girls  and  young 
ladies.  It  is  by  many  supposed  that  to  be  ladylike 
should  be  the  height  of  the  ambition  of  girls  as  soon 
as  they  are  old  enough  to  be  taught  concerning  pro- 
priety of  behavior,  which  is  understood  to  mean  that 
they  must  appear  as  unnatural  as  possible  in  attempt- 
ing to  act  like  grown-up  ladies.  Many  mothers  who 
wish  their  daughters  to  be  models  of  perfection,  but 
whose  ideas  of  perfect  deportment  are  exceedingly 
superficial  in  character,  dress  up  their  little  daughters 
in  fine  clothing,  beautiful  to  look  at,  but  very  far  from 
what  is  required  for  health  and  comfort,  and  then  con- 
tinually admonish  the  little  ones  that  they  must  keep 
very  quiet  and  ''act  like  little  ladies."  Such  a  course 
is  a  most  pernicious  one.  It  fosters  pride  and  vanity, 
and  inculcates  an  entirely  wrong  idea  of  what  is  lady- 
like, what  is  true  to  nature  as  a  girl.  Such  artificial 
training  is  damaging  alike  to  mind  and  body;  and  it 
induces  a  condition  of  mind  and  of  the  physical  system 
which  is  very  conducive  to  the  encouragement  of  dan- 
gerous tendencies. 


438  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

How  to  Develop  Beauty  and  Loveliness.  —  All 

little  girls  want  to  be  beautiful.  Girls  in  general  care 
much  more  for  their  appearance  than  do  boys.  They 
have  finer  tastes,  and  greater  love  for  whatever  is 
lovely  and  beautiful.  It  is  a  natural  desire,  and  should 
be  encouraged.  A  pure,  innocent,  beautiful  little  girl 
is  the  most  lovely  of  all  God's  creatures.  All  are  not 
equally  beautiful,  however,  and  cannot  be ;  but  all  may 
be  beautiful  to  a  degree  that  will  render  them  attract- 
ive. Let  all  little  girls  who  want  to  be  pretty,  hand- 
some, or  good-looking,  give  attention,  and  we  will  tell 
them  how.  Those  who  are  homely  should  listen  espe- 
cially, for  all  may  become  good-looking,  though  all 
cannot  become  remarkably  beautiful.  First  of  all,  it 
is  necessary  that  the  girl  who  wishes  to  be  handsome, 
to  be  admired,  should  be  good.  She  must  learn  to  love 
what  is  right  and  true.  She  must  be  pure  in  mind  and 
act.  She  must  be  simple  in  her  manners,  modest  in 
her  deportment,  and  kind  in  her  ways. 

Second  in  importance,  though  scarcely  so,  is  the 
necessity  of  health.  No  girl  can  long  be  beautiful  with- 
out health;  and  no  girl  who  enjoys  perfect  health  can 
be  really  ugly  in  appearance.  A  healthy  countenance 
is  always  attractive.  Disease  wastes  the  rounded  fea- 
tures, bleaches  out  the  roses  from  the  cheeks  and  the 
vermilion  from  the  lips.  It  destroys  the  luster  of  the 
eye  and  the  elasticity  of  the  step.  Health  is  essential 
to  beauty.  In  fact,  if  we  consider  goodness  as  a  state 
of  moral  health,  then  health  is  the  one  great  requisite 
of  beauty. 

Health  is  attained  and  preserved  by  the  observance 
of  those  natural  laws  which  the  Creator  has  appointed 
for  the  government  of  our  bodies.  The  structure  of  these 
bodies  we  may  do  well  to  study  for  a  few  moments. 


GIRLHOOD 


439 


Correct 


Correct 


Correct 


PHYSICAL  FAULTS  THAT  DESTROY  BEAUTY 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  441 

The  Human  Form  Divine.— Go  with  us  to  one  of 
the  large  cities,  and  we  will  show  you  one  of  the  most 
marvelous  pieces  of  mechanism  ever  invented,  a  tri- 
umph of  ingenuity,  skill,  and  patient,  persevering  labor 
for  many  years.  This  wonderful  device  is  a  clock 
which  will  run  more  than  one  hundred  years.  It  is  so 
constructed  that  it  indicates  not  only  the  time  of  day, 
the  day  of  the  month  and  year,  itself  making  all  the 
necessary  changes  for  leap  year,  but  shows  the  motions 
of  the  earth  around  the  sun,  together  with  the  move- 
ments and  positions  of  all  the  other  planets,  and  many 
other  marvelous  things.  When  it  strikes  at  the  end 
of  each  hour,  groups  of  figures  go  through  a  variety 
of  curious  movements  most  closely  resembling  the  ap- 
pearance and  actions  of  human  beings. 

The  maker  of  this  remarkable  clock  well  deserves 
the  almost  endless  praise  which  he  receives  for  his 
skill  and  patience ;  for  his  work  is  certainly  wonderful ; 
but  the  great  clock,  with  its  curious  and  complicated 
mechanism,  is  a  coarse  and  bungling  affair  when  com- 
pared with  the  human  body.  The  clock  doubtless  con- 
tains thousands  of  delicate  wheels  and  springs,  and  is 
constructed  with  all  the  skill  imaginable;  and  yet  the 
structure  of  the  human  body  is  infinitely  more  delicate. 
The  clock  has  no  intelligence;  but  a  human  being  can 
hear,  see,  feel,  taste,  touch,  and  think.  The  clock  does 
only  what  its  maker  designed  to  have  it  do,  and  can  do 
nothing  else.  The  human  machine  is  a  living  mecha- 
nism ;  it  can  control  its  own  movements,  can  do  as  it  will, 
within  certain  limits.  But  more  curious  still,  the  human 
machine  has  the  power  to  mend  itself,  so  that  when  it 
needs  repairs  it  is  not  necessary  to  send  it  to  a  shop 
for  the  purpose,  but  all  that  is  required  is  to  give  na- 
ture an  opportunity,  and  the  system  repairs  itself. 


442  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

A  "Wonderful  Process,— We  have  not  space  here 
to  mention  all  the  wonderful  structures  of  this  human 
machine,  briefly  described  in  the  chapter  entitled, ' '  The 
Body  Temple;"  but  must  notice  particularly  one  of  its 
most  marvelous  features,  a  provision  by  which  other 
human  beings,  living  machines  like  itself,  are  pro- 
duced. All  living  creatures  possess  this  power.  A 
single  potato  placed  in  the  ground  becomes  a  dozen  or 
more,  by  a  process  of  multiplying.  A  little  seed  planted 
in  the  earth  grows  up  to  be  a  plant,  produces  flowers, 
and  from  the  flowers  come  other  seeds,— not  one,  but 
often  a  great  many,  sometimes  hundreds  from  a  single 
seed.  Insects,  fishes,  birds,  and  all  other  animals,  thus 
multijDly.  So  do  human  beings,  and  in  a  similar  man- 
ner. The  organs  by  which  this  most  marvelous  process 
is  carried  on  in  plants  and  animals,  including  also 
human  beings,  are  called  sexual  organs.  Flowers  are 
the  sexual  organs  of  plants. 

Human  Buds.— A  curious  animal  which  lives  near 
the  seashore,  in  shallow  water,  attached  to  a  rock  like 
a  water  plant,  puts  out  little  buds,  which  grow  awhile 
and  then  drop  off,  and  after  a  time  become  large  in- 
dividuals like  the  parent,  each  in  turn  producing  buds 
like  the  one  from  which  it  grew.  Human  beings  are 
formed  by  a  similar  process.  Human  buds  are  formed 
by  an  organ  for  the  purpose  possessed  only  by  the 
female  sex,  and  these,  under  proper  circumstances,  de- 
velop into  infant  human  beings.  The  process,  though 
so  simply  stated,  is  a  marvelously  complicated  one, 
which  cannot  be  fully  explained  here ;  indeed,  it  is  one 
of  the  mysteries  which  is  beyond  the  power  of  human 
wisdom  fully  to  explain. 

The  production  of  these  human  buds  is  one  of  the 
most  important  and  sacred  duties  of  woman.     It  is 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  443 

through  this  means  that  she  becomes  a  mother,  which 
is  one  of  the  grandest  and  noblest  functions  of  woman- 
hood. It  is  the  motherly  instinct  that  causes  little  girls 
to  show  such  a  fondness  for  dolls,— a  perfectly  natural 
feeling,  which  may  be  encouraged  to  a  moderate  degree 
without  injury. 

How  Beauty  Is  Marred.— As  already  remarked, 
mental,  moral,  and  physical  health  are  the  requisites 
for  true  beauty,  and  to  secure  these,  obedience  to  all 
the  laws  of  health  is  required.  The  most  beautiful 
face  is  soon  marred  when  disease  begins  its  ravages  in 
the  body.  The  most  beautiful  character  is  as  speedily 
spoiled  by  the  touch  of  moral  disease,  or  sin.  The  face 
is  a  mirror  of  the  mind,  the  character ;  and  a  mind  full 
of  evil,  impure  thoughts,  is  certain  to  show  itself  in  the 
face  in  spite  of  the  rosy  cheeks  and  dimples,  ruby  lips 
and  bewitching  smiles.  The  character  is  written  on 
the  face  as  plainly  as  the  face  can  be  pictured  by  an 
artist  on  canvas. 

To  be  more  explicit,  the  girl  who  disregards  the 
laws  of  health,  who  eats  bad  food,  eats  at  all  hours  or 
at  unseasonable  hours,  sits  up  late  at  night,  attends 
fashionable  parties,  and  indulges  in  the  usual  means 
of  dissipation  there  afforded,  dancing,  wine,  rich  sup- 
pers, etc.,  who  carefully  follows  the  fashions  in  her 
dress,  lacing  her  waist  to  attain  the  fashionable  degree 
of  slenderness,  wearing  thin,  narrow-toed  gaiters  with 
French  heels,  and  insufficiently  clothing  the  limbs  in 
cold  weather,  and  who  in  like  manner  neglects  to  com- 
ply with  the  requirements  of  health  in  other  important 
particulars,  may  be  certain  that  sooner  or  later,  at  no 
distant  day,  she  will  become  as  unattractive  and  homely 
as  she  can  wish  not  to  be.  Girls  and  young  ladies  who 
eat  largely  of  fat  meat,  rich  cakes  and  pies,  confection- 


444  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

ery,  ice-cream,  and  other  dietetic  abominations,  cannot 
avoid  becoming  sallow  and  hollow-eyed.  The  cheeks, 
though  plump  and  rosy,  will  certainly  lose  their  fresh- 
ness, and  become  hollow  and  thin.  Chalk  and  rouge 
will  not  hide  the  defect;  for  everybody  will  discover 
the  fraud,  and  will  of  course  know  the  reason  why  it 
is  practiced. 

A  Beauty-Destroying  Vice.— But  by  far  the  worst 
enemy  of  beauty  and  health  of  body,  mind,  and  soul, 
we  have  not  yet  mentioned.  It  is  a  sin  concerning 
which  we  would  gladly  keep  silence ;  but  we  cannot  see 
so  many  of  our  most  beautiful  and  promising  girls  and 
young  ladies  annually  being  ruined,  often  for  this 
world  and  the  next  alike,  without  uttering  the  word  of 
warning  needed. 

As  before  remarked,  the  function  of  maternity, 
which  is  the  object  of  the  sexual  system  in  woman, 
when  rightly  exercised,  is  the  most  sacred  and  elevated 
office  which  a  woman  can  perform  for  the  world.  The 
woman  who  is  a  true  mother,  has  an  opportunity  of 
doing  for  the  race  more  than  all  other  human  agencies 
combined.  The  mother's  influence  is  the  controlling 
influence  in  the  world.  The  mother  molds  the  character 
of  her  children.  She  can  make  of  their  plastic  minds 
almost  what  she  will  if  she  is  herself  prepared  for  the 
work.  On  the  other  hand,  misuse  or  abuse  of  the 
sexual  organism  is  visited  in  girls  and  women,  as  in 
boys  and  men,  with  the  most  fearful  penalties.  Noth- 
ing will  sooner  deprive  a  girl  or  young  lady  of  the 
maidenly  grace  and  freshness  with  which  nature  blesses 
woman  in  her  early  years,  than  secret  vice. 

We  have  the  greatest  difficulty  in  making  ourself 
believe  that  it  is  possible  for  beings,  designed  by  nature 
to  be  pure  and  innocent,  in  all  respects  free  from  im- 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  445 

purity  of  any  sort,  to  become  so  depraved  by  sin  as  to 
be  willing  to  devote  themselves  to  so  vile  and  filthy  a 
practice.  Yet  the  frequency  with  which  cases  have 
come  under  our  observation,  which  clearly  indicate  the 
alarming  prevalence  of  the  practice,  even  among  girls 
and  young  women  who  would  naturally  be  least  sus- 
pected, compels  us  to  recognize  the  fact.  The  testi- 
mony of  many  eminent  physicians  whose  opportunities 
for  observation  have  been  very  extensive,  shows  that 
the  evil  is  enormously  greater  than  people  generally 
are  aware.  Instructors  of  the  youth,  of  large  experi- 
ence, assert  the  same.  Nor  is  the  evil  greater  in 
America  than  in  some  other  countries.  One  writer 
declares  that  the  vice  is  almost  universal  among  the 
girls  of  Russia,  which  may  be  due  to  the  low  condition 
in  which  the  women  of  that  country  are  kept. 

Terrible  Effects  of  Secret  Vice.  —The  awful 
effects  of  this  sin  against  God  and  nature  become 
speedily  visible  in  those  who  are  guilty  of  it.  The  ex- 
perienced eye  needs  no  confession  on  the  part  of  the 
victim  to  read  the  whole  story  of  sinful  indulgence  and 
consequent  disease.  The  vice  stamps  its  insignia  upon 
the  countenance;  it  shows  itself  in  the  walk,  in  the 
changed  disposition,  and  the  loss  of  healthy  vigor.  It 
is  not  only  impossible  for  a  victim  of  this  sinful  prac- 
tice to  hide  from  the  all- seeing  eye  of  God  the  vileness 
perpetrated  in  secret,  but  it  is  also  useless  to  attempt 
to  hide  from  human  eyes  the  awful  truth. 

Headache,  sideache,  backache,  pains  in  the  chest, 
and  wandering  pains  in  various  parts  of  the  body,— 
these  are  but  a  few  of  the  painful  ailments  from  which 
girls  who  are  guilty  of  this  sin  suffer.  Tenderness 
of  the  spine,  which  causes  great  solicitude  on  the  part 
of  parents  and  physicians,  who  fear  that  serious  dis- 


446  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND   YOUNG 

ease  is  threatening  the  life  of  a  loved  daughter,  not 
infrequently  originates  in  this  way.  Much  of  the 
hysteria  which  renders  wretched  the  lives  of  thousands 
of  young  ladies  and  the  fond  friends  who  are  obliged 
to  care  for  and  attend  them,  arises  from  sexual  trans- 
gression of  the  kind  of  which  we  are  speaking.  The 
blanched  cheeks,  hollow,  expressionless  eyes,  and  rough, 
pimply  skins  of  many  schoolgirls,  are  due  to  this  cause 
alone.  We  do  not  mean  by  this  to  intimate  that  every 
girl  who  has  pimples  upon  her  face  is  guilty  of  secret 
vice;  but  this  sin  is  undoubtedly  a  very  frequent  cause 
of  the  unpleasant  eruption  which  so  often  appears  upon 
the  foreheads  of  both  sexes.  It  would  be  very  unjust, 
however,  to  charge  a  person  with  the  sin  unless  on 
further  evidence  than  that  of  an  eruption  on  the  face. 

The  inability  to  study,  to  apply  the  mind  in  any 
way  except  when  stimulated  by  something  of  a  very 
exciting  character,  is  in  a  large  proportion  of  cases 
due  to  the  practice  of  which  we  are  writing.  Often 
enough  the  effects  which  are  attributed  to  overstudy, 
are  properly  due  to  this  debasing  habit.  We  have  little 
faith  in  the  great  outcry  made  in  certain  quarters  about 
the  damaging  effects  of  study  upon  the  health  of  young 
ladies.  A  far  less  worthy  cause  is  in  many  cases  the 
true  one,  to  which  is  attributable  the  decline  in  health 
at  a  critical  period  when  all  the  vital  forces  of  the 
system  are  necessarily  called  into  action  to  establish 
a  new  function. 

Hundreds  of  girls  break  down  in  health  just  as  they 
are  entering  womanhood.  At  from  twelve  to  eighteen 
years  of  age  the  change  naturally  occurs  which  trans- 
forms the  girl  into  a  woman  by  the  development  of 
functions  previously  latent.  This  critical  period  is  one 
through  which  every  girl  in  health  ought  to  pass  with 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  447 

scarcely  any  noticeable  disturbance ;  and  if,  during  the 
previous  years  of  life,  the  laws  of  health  were  ob- 
served, seldom  would  there  by  any  unusual  degree  of 
suffering  at  this  time.  Those  who  have  been  before 
this  period  addicted  to  the  vile  habit  of  which  we  are 
writing,  will  almost  invariably  show  at  this  time  evi- 
dences of  the  injury  which  has  been  wrought.  The 
unnatural  excitement  of  the  organs  before  the  period 
of  puberty  lays  the  foundation  for  lifelong  disease. 
When  that  critical  epoch  arrives,  the  organs  are  found 
in  a  state  of  congestion  often  bordering  on  inflamma- 
tion. The  increased  congestion  which  naturally  occurs 
at  this  time  in  many  cases,  is  sufficient  to  excite  most 
serious  disease. 

Here  is  the  beginning  of  a  great  many  of  the  spe- 
cial diseases  which  are  the  bane  and  shame  of  the  sex. 
Displacements  of  various  sorts,  congestions,  neuralgia 
of  the  ovaries,  leucorrhea,  or  whites,  and  a  great  vari- 
ety of  kindred  maladies,  are  almost  certain  to  make 
their  appearance  at  this  period  or  soon  after  in  those 
who  have  been  guilty  of  self -abuse.  If  the  evil  influ- 
ences already  at  work  are  augmented  by  tight-lacing, 
insufficient  protection  of  the  extremities,  hanging  heavy 
skirts  upon  the  hips,  and  fashionable  dissipation  gen- 
erally, the  worst  results  are  sure  to  follow,  and  the 
individual  is  elected  to  be  a  subject  for  the  doctors 
during  a  good  portion  of  her  life. 

A  talented  writer  some  time  since  contributed  to  a 
popular  magazine  an  article  entitled  ' '  The  Little  Health 
of  Women,"  which  contained  many  excellent  hints  re- 
specting the  influences  at  work  to  undermine  the  health 
and  destroy  the  constitutions  of  American  women; 
but  he  did  not  even  hint  at  this  potent  cause,  which 
we  firmly  believe  is  responsible  for  a  far  greater  share 


448  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

of  the  local  disease  and  general  poor  health  of  girls, 
young  women,  and  married  ladies,  than  has  been  gen- 
erally recognized.  These  are  startling  statements,  but 
we  are  prepared  to  substantiate  them. 

Remote  Effects.— Not  all  the  effects  of  vice  ap- 
pear in  girlhood,  nor  even  during  early  life.  Fre- 
quently it  is  not  until  the  girl  is  grown  up  to  be  a  wife 
and  mother  that  she  begins  to  appreciate  fully  the 
harm  that  has  been  wrought.  At  this  time,  when  new 
demands  are  made  upon  the  sexual  organism,  when 
its  proper  duties  are  to  be  performed,  there  is  a  sud- 
den failure;  new  weaknesses  and  diseases  make  their 
appearance,  new  pains  and  sufferings  are  felt,  which 
no  woman  will  suffer  who  has  not  in  some  way  seri- 
ously transgressed  the  laws  of  health.  In  not  a  few 
instances  is  discovered  the  fact  that  the  individual  is 
wholly  unfitted  for  the  duties  of  maternity.  Often, 
indeed,  maternity  is  impossible,  the  injury  resulting 
from  the  sins  committed  being  so  great  as  to  render 
the  diseased  organism  incapable  of  the  functions  re- 
quired. 

In  the  great  majority  of  cases,  these  peculiar  diffi- 
culties, morbid  conditions,  and  incapacities  are  attribu- 
ted to  overwork,  overstudy,  ''taking  cold,"  ''getting 
the  feet  wet,"  or  some  other  cause  wholly  inadequate 
to  account  for  the  diseased  conditions  present,  al- 
though in  many  instances  it  may  be  true  that  some 
such  unfortunate  circumstance  may  be  the  means  of 
precipitating  the  effects  of  previous  sin  upon  organs 
already  relaxed,  debilitated,  and  thus  prepared  readily 
to  take  on  disease. 

Causes  Which  Lead  Girls  Astray.— The  predis- 
posing causes  of  sexual  vice  have  already  been  dwelt 
upon  so  fully  in  this  volume  that  we  shall  devote  little 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  449 

space  to  the  subject  here.  We  may,  however,  mention 
a  few  of  the  special  causes  which  seem  to  be  most  active 
in  leading  to  the  formation  of  evil  habits  among  girls. 

Vicious  Companions.— Girls  are  remarkably  sus- 
ceptible to  influence  by  those  of  their  own  age.  A 
vicious  girl  who  makes  herself  agreeable  to  those  with 
^wliom  she  associates,  can  exert  more  influence  over 
many  of  her  companions  than  can  any  number  of  older 
persons.  Even  a  mother  rarely  has  the  influence  over 
her  daughter  that  is  maintained  by  the  girl  whom  she 
holds  as  her  bosom  friend.  The  close  friendships  which 
are  formed  between  girls  of  the  same  age  are  often 
highly  detrimental  in  character.  Each  makes  a  confi- 
dant of  the  other,  and  thus  becomes  estranged  from  the 
only  one  competent  to  give  counsel  and  advice,  and  the 
one  who  of  all  others  is  worthy  of  a  young  girl's  con- 
fidence,—  her  mother. 

From  these  unfortunate  alliances  often  arise  most 
deplorable  evils.  Vicious  companions  not  infrequently 
sow  the  seeds  of  evil  habits  far  and  wide,  contami- 
nating all  who  come  within  their  influence. 

Whom  to  Avoid.— A  girl  will  always  do  well  to 
avoid  a  companion  who  is  vain,  idle,  silly,  or  frivo- 
lous. Girls  who  have  these  evil  characteristics  are 
very  likely  to  have  others  also  which  are  worse.  A 
girl  who  is  rude  in  her  manners,  careless  in  her  habits, 
irreverent  and  disobedient  to  parents  and  teachers,  is 
always  an  unsafe  companion.  No  matter  how  pretty, 
witty,  stylish,  or  aristocratic  she  may  be,  she  should 
be  shunned.  Her  influence  will  be  withering,  debasing, 
wherever  felt.  A  girl  may  be  gay  and  thoughtless 
without  being  vicious;  but  the  chances  are  ten  to  one 
that  she  will  become  sinful  unless  she  changes  her 
ways. 

27 


450  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

Sentimental  Books.  — The  majority  of  girls  love 
to  read,  but,  unfortunately,  the  kind  of  literature  of 
which  they  are  often  fond  is  not  of  a  character  which 
will  elevate,  refine,  or  in  any  way  benefit  them.  Story- 
books, romances,  love  tales,  and  religious  novels  con- 
stitute the  chief  part  of  the  reading-matter  which 
American  young  ladies  greedily  devour.  We  have 
known  young  ladies  still  in  their  teens  who  had  read 
whole  libraries  of  the  most  exciting  novels. 

The  taste  for  novel-reading  is  like  that  for  liquor 
or  opium.  It  is  never  satiated.  It  grows  with  gratifi- 
cation. A  confirmed  novel-reader  is  almost  as  difficult 
to  reform  as  a  confirmed  inebriate  or  opium-eater. 
The  influence  upon  the  mind  is  most  damaging  and 
pernicious.  It  not  only  destroys  the  love  for  solid, 
useful  reading,  but  excites  the  emotions,  and  in  many 
cases  keeps  the  passions  in  a  perfect  fever  of  excite- 
ment. The  confessions  of  young  women  who  were  te 
all  appearance  the  most  circumspect  in  every  particu- 
lar, and  incapable  of  vile  thoughts,  have  convinced  ug 
that  this  evil  is  more  prevalent  than  many,  even  of 
those  who  are  quite  well  informed,  would  be  willing 
to  admit. 

By  reading  of  this  kind,  many  are  led  to  resort  to 
self -abuse  for  the  gratification  of  passions  which  over- 
stimulation has  made  almost  uncontrollable.  Some 
have  thus  been  induced  to  sin  who  had  never  been 
injured  by  other  influences,  but  discovered  the  fatal 
secret  themselves.  Mothers  cannot  be  too  careful  of 
the  character  of  the  books  which  their  daughters  read. 
Every  book,  magazine,  and  paper  should  be  carefully 
scrutinized,  unless  its  character  is  already  well  known, 
before  it  is  allowed  to  be  read.  In  our  opinion,  some 
of  the  literature  which  passes  as  standard,  and  is  often 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  451 

found  ou  parlor  center-tables  and  in  family  and  school 
libraries,  sncli  as  Chaucer's  poems  and  other  writings 
of  a  kindred  character,  is  unfit  for  perusal  by  inex- 
perienced and  unsophisticated  young  ladies.  Some  of 
this  literature  is  actually  too  vile  for  any  one  to  read, 
and  if  written  to-day  by  any  poet  of  note,  would  cause 
his  works  to  be  committed  to  the  stove  and  rag-bag 
in  spite  of  his  reputation. 

Various  Causes.— Bad  diet,  the  use  of  stimulating 
and  exciting  articles  of  food,  late  suppers,  confection- 
ery, and  dainties,— all  these  have  a  very  powerful  in- 
fluence in  the  wrong  direction,  by  exciting  functions 
which  ought  to  be  kept  as  nearly  latent  as  possible. 
The  use  of  tea  and  coffee  by  young  ladies  cannot  be 
too  strongly  condemned.  Improper  dress,  by  causing 
local  congestion,  often  predisposes  to  secret  vice  by 
occasioning  local  excitement.  Probably  a  greater  cause 
than  any  of  those  last  mentioned  is  too  great  familiar- 
ity with  the  opposite  sex.  The  silly  letters  which  girls 
sometimes  receive  from  the  boys  and  young  men  of 
their  acquaintance,  and  which  they  encourage  by  let- 
ters of  a  similar  character,  must  be  condemned  in  the 
most  thorough  manner.  Upon  receiving  such  a  letter, 
a  pure-minded  girl  will  consider  herself  insulted.  The 
childish  flirtations  in  which  boys  and  girls  sometimes 
indulge,  often  lead  to  evils  of  a  most  revolting  char- 
acter. 

Modesty  Woman's  Safeguard.— True  modesty  and 
maidenly  reserve  are  the  best  guardians  of  virtue.  The 
girl  who  is  truly  modest,  who  encourages  ana  allows 
no  improper  advances,  need  have  no  fear  of  annoy- 
ance from  this  source.  She  is  equally  safe  from  temp- 
tation to  sin  which  may  come  to  her  in  secret,  when 
no  human  eye  can  behold.     Maidenly  modesty  is  one 


452  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

of  the  best  qualities  wliich  any  young  lady  can  pos- 
sess. A  young  woman  who  lacks  modesty,  who  mani- 
fests boldness  of  manner  and  carelessness  in  deport- 
ment, is  not  only  liable  to  have  her  virtue  assailed  by 
designing  and  unscrupulous  men,  but  is  herself  likely 
to  fall  before  the  temptation  to  indulge  in  secret  sin, 
which  is  certain  to  present  itself  in  some  way  sooner 
or  later. 

This  invaluable  protection  of  modesty  is  speedily 
lost  by  the  girl  who  abandons  herself  to  secret  vice. 
The  chances  are  very  great,  also,  that  by  degrees  her 
respect  and  love  for  virtue  and  chastity  will  diminish 
until  she  is  open  to  temptations  to  indulge  in  less  secret 
sin;  and  thus  she  travels  down  the  road  of  vice  until 
she  finds  herself  at  last  an  inmate  of  a  brothel  or  an 
outcast  wanderer,  rejected  by  friends,  and  lost  to  vir- 
tue, purity,  and  all  that  a  true  woman  holds  most 
dear. 

A  Few  Sad  Cases.— We  do  not  believe  it  right  to 
harrow  the  feelings  of  those  who  have  sinned  and  suf- 
fered, rehearsing  sad  cases  when  no  good  can  be  ac- 
complished by  such  accounts,  but  we  deem  it  just  that 
those  who  are  not  yet  entangled  in  the  meshes  of  vice 
should  have  an  opportunity  of  knowing  the  actual 
results  of  sin,  and  profiting  by  the  sad  experience  of 
others.  It  is  for  this  purpose  that  we  mention  a  few 
cases  which  have  come  under  our  observation,  taking 
care  to  avoid  what  might  lead  to  identification,  as  the 
facts  we  shall  use  were,  many  of  them,  received  in 
strict  confidence  from  those  who  were  glad  to  unbur- 
den their  hearts  to  some  one,  but  had  never  dared  to 
do  so,  even  to  their  friends. 

A  Pitiful  Case. —Several  years  ago  we  received 
a  letter  from  a  young  woman  describing  her  case  as 


A   CHAPTER  FOR   GIRLS  453 

that  of  an  individual  who  had  early  become  addicted 
to  secret  vice,  and  had  continued  the  vile  habit  until 
that  time,  when  she  was  about  thirty-two  years  of  age. 
In  spite  of  the  most  solemn  vows  to  reform,  she  still 
continued  the  habit,  and  had  become  reduced  to  such 
a  miserable  condition  that  she  would  almost  rather 
die  than  live.  She  sent  with  her  letter  photographs 
representing  herself  at  twenty,  and  also  when  she 
wrote,  so  that  we  might  see  the  contrast.  It  was  indeed 
appalling  to  see  the  changes  sin  had  wrought.  Her 
face,  once  fair  and  comely,  had  become  actually  hag- 
gard with  vice.  Purity,  innocence,  grace,  and  modesty 
were  no  longer  visible  there.  The  hard  lines  of  sin 
had  obliterated  every  trace  of  beauty,  and  produced  a 
most  repulsive  countenance.  Though  greatly  depraved 
and  shattered  by  sin  and  consequent  disease  in  body 
and  mind,  she  still  had  some  desire  to  be  cured,  if 
possible,  and  made  a  most  pitiful  appeal  for  help  to 
escape  from  her  loathsome  condition.  We  gave  her  the 
best  counsel  we  could  under  the  circumstances,  and  did 
all  in  our  power  to  rescue  her  from  her  living  death; 
but  whether  in  any  degree  successful  we  cannot  tell, 
as  we  have  never  heard  from  the  poor  creature  since. 
We  have  often  wished  that  we  might  show  those 
two  pictures  to  every  girl  who  has  been  tempted  to 
sin  in  this  way,  to  all  who  have  ever  yielded  to  this 
awful  vice.  The  terrible  contrast  would  certainly  pro- 
duce an  impression  which  no  words  can  do.  We  sent 
them  back  to  their  wretched  original,  however,  by  her 
request,  and  so  cannot  show  the  actual  pictures;  but 
when  any  who  read  these  lines  are  tempted  thus  to 
sin,  we  beg  of  them  to  think  of  these  two  pictures,  and 
by  forming  a  vivid  image  of  them  in  the  mind,  drive 
away  the  disposition  to  do  wrong. 


454  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 


A  Mind  Dethroned. —A  young  lady  who  had  re- 
ceived every  advantage  which  could  be  given  her  by 
indulgent  parents,  and  who  naturally  possessed  most 
excellent  talents,  being  a  fine  musician,  and  naturally  so 
bright  and  witty  as  to  be  the  life  of  every  company 
.n  which  she  moved,  suddenly  began  to  show  strange 
symptoms  of  mental  unsoundness.  She  would  some- 
times be  seized  with  fits  of  violence,  during  which  it 
was  with  great  difficulty  that  she  could  be  controlled. 
Several  times  she  threatened  the  lives  of  her  nurses, 
and  even  on  one  occasion  attempted  to  execute  her 
threat,  the  person's  life  being  saved  by  mere  accident. 
Everything  was  done  for  her  that  could  be  done,  but 
the  mania  increased  to  such  a  degree  of  violence  that 
she  was  sent  to  an  asylum  for  the  insane.  Here  she 
remained  for  months  before  she  became  suJBficiently 
tractable  to  be  taken  to  her  home  and  cared  for  by 
friends.  Too  close  application  to  study  was  the  cause 
at  first  assigned  for  her  mental  disorder ;  but  a  careful 
investigation  of  the  case  revealed  the  fact  that  the  ter- 
rible sin  which  has  ruined  the  minds  of  so  many  prom- 
ising young  men  and  brilliant  young  women,  was  the 
cause  that  led  to  the  sad  result  in  this  case  also.  The 
punishment  of  sin,  especially  of  sexual  sin,  is  indeed 
terrible;  but  the  sin  is  a  fearful  one,  and  the  penalty 
must  be  equal  to  the  enormity  of  the  crime.  Not  all 
young  women  who  indulge  thus  will  become  insane,  but 
any  one  who  transgresses  in  this  way  may  be  thus  pun- 
ished.   There  is  no  safety  but  in  absolute  purity. 

A  Penitent  Victim. —A  young  woman  who  had 
been  ill  for  years,  and  whose  physicians  had  sought  in 
vain  to  cure  her  various  ailments,  until  her  parents 
almost  despaired  of  her  ever  being  anything  but  a  help- 
less invalid,  came  to  us  fcr  treatment,  resolved  upon 


A   CHAPTER  FOR  GIRLS  455 

making  a  last  effort  for  help.  She  had  grown  up  in 
utter  ignorance  of  the  laws  of  health,  and  of  the  re- 
sults of  the  vice  of  which  we  are  writing;  and  having 
been  early  taught  the  sin,  she  had  indulged  it  for  a 
number  of  years  with  the  result  of  producing  a  most 
terribly  diseased  condition  of  the  sexual  organs,  which 
had  baffled  the  skill  of  all  the  physicians  who  had 
attended  her,  none  of  whom  had  ever  been  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  true  cause  of  the  difficulties. 

"V\nien  apprised  of  the  real  facts  in  the  case,  that 
she  alone  was  responsible  for  the  sad  condition  into 
which  she  had  fallen,  her  eyes  were  opened  to  see  the 
wickedness  and  vileness  of  her  course.  She  bitterly 
bemoaned  her  past  life,  and  heartily  repented  of  her 
sins.  Of  the  sincerity  of  her  repentance  she  gave  evi- 
dence in  the  earnest  efforts  which  she  put  forth  to 
help  herself.  She  spared  no  pains  to  do  well  all  re- 
quired on  her  part,  and  was  soon  rewarded  by  feeling 
that  her  diseases  were  being  removed,  and  health  was 
returning.  Still  she  was  constantly  reminded  of  her 
former  sins.  Wlien  the  will  was  off  its  guard  during 
sleep,  the  mind,  long  indulged  in  sin,  would  revert  to 
the  old  channels,  and  riot  in  vileness.  Unchaste  dreams 
often  made  her  dread  to  sleep,  as  she  awoke  from  these 
unconscious  lapses  enervated,  weak,  and  prostrated  as 
though  she  had  actually  transgressed.  But  though 
often  thus  almost  disheartened,  she  continued  the  strug- 
gle against  evil,  and  was  finally  rewarded  by  gaining 
a  perfect  victory  over  her  mind,  sleeping  as  well  as 
waking,  and  recovering  her  health  sufficiently  to  enable 
her  to  enjoy  life,  and  make  herself  very  useful. 

Not  a  few  similar  cases  have  come  under  our  ob- 
servation; and  it  seems  to  us  that  the  pain,  anguish, 
and  remorse  suffered  by  these  poor  victims,  ought  to 


456  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

be  a  warning  to  those  who  have  never  entered  the  sin- 
ful road.  "Wliat  a  terrible  thing  it  is  for  a  pure  and 
lovely  being,  designed  by  God  to  fulfill  a  high,  holy, 
and  sacred  mission  in  the  world,  to  become  a  victim 
to  such  a  filthy  vice!  No  girl  of  sense  would  in  her 
right  mind  raise  her  hand  to  dash  in  pieces  a  beautiful 
vase,  to  destroy  a  lovely  painting,  or  a  beautiful  piece 
of  statuary.  A  girl  who  would  do  such  a  thing  would 
be  considered  insane,  and  a  fit  subject  for  a  mad-house. 
Yet  is  not  the  human  body,  a  girl's  own  beautiful, 
symmetrical  form,  infinitely  better,  more  valuable  and 
more  sacred,  than  any  object  produced  by  human  art? 
There  can  be  but  one  answer.  How,  then,  is  it  possible 
for  her  thus  to  defile  and  destroy  herself?  Is  it  not  a 
fearful  thing,  a  terrible  vice? 

A  Ruined  Girl.— One  of  the  most  remarkable  cases 
of  disease  resulting  from  self-abuse  which  ever  came 
under  our  observation  was  that  of  a  young  lady  from 
a  distant  Western  State  whose  adopted  parents,  after 
consulting  many  different  physicians  for  a  peculiar 
disease  of  the  breast,  placed  her  under  our  care.  We 
found  her  a  good-looking  young  woman  about  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  rather  pale,  and  considerably  ema- 
ciated, very  nervous  and  hysterical,  and  suffering  with 
severe  pain  in  the  left  breast,  which  was  swollen  to 
nearly  double  the  natural  size,  hot,  tense,  pulsating, 
and  extremely  tender  to  the  touch.  Occasionally  she 
would  experience  paroxysms  in  which  she  apparently 
suffered  extremely,  being  sometimes  semi-conscious, 
and  scarcely  breathing  for  hours.  We  suspected  the 
cause  of  these  peculiar  manifestations  at  the  outset, 
but  every  suggestion  of  the  possibility  of  the  suspected 
cause  was  mei  with  a  stout  denial  and  a  very  deceptive 
pretense  of  innocent  ignorance  on  the  subject.     All 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  457 

treatment  was  unavailing  to  check  the  disease.  Though 
sometimes  the  sjTuptoms  seemed  to  be  controlled,  a 
speedy  relapse  occurred,  so  that  no  progress  toward 
a  cure  was  made.  Finally,  our  conviction  that  the  first 
impression  respecting  the  case  was  correct  became  so 
strong  that  we  hesitated  no  longer  to  treat  it  as  such. 
By  most  vigilant  observation  we  detected  evidences  of 
the  soul-corrupting  vice  which  we  considered  unmis- 
takable, and  then  the  young  woman  who  had  pretended 
such  profound  ignorance  of  this  sin,  confessed  to  an 
extent  of  wickedness  which  was  appalling.  Every  par- 
oxysm was  traced  to  an  unusual  excess  of  sinful  indul- 
gence. So  hardened  was  she  by  her  evil  practices  that 
she  seemed  to  feel  no  remorse,  and  only  promised  to 
reform  when  threatened  with  exposure  to  her  parents 
unless  she  immediately  ceased  the  vile  practice.  In  less 
than  ten  days  the  mysterious  symptoms  which  had  puz- 
zled many  physicians,  disappeared  altogether.  The 
swollen,  tender  breast  was  no  larger  than  the  other, 
and  was  so  entirely  restored  that  she  was  able  to  strike 
it  a  full  blow  without  pain. 

So  great  was  the  depravity  of  this  girl,  however, 
that  she  had  no  notion  of  making  a  permanent  reform. 
She  even  boasted  of  her  wickedness  to  a  companion, 
and  announced  her  intention  to  continue  the  practice. 
We  sent  her  home,  and  apprised  her  parents  of  the 
full  facts  in  the  case,  for  which  we  received  their  deep- 
est gratitude,  though  their  hearts  were  nearly  broken 
with  grief  at  the  sad  revelation  made  to  them.  Not- 
withstanding their  most  earnest  efforts  in  her  behalf, 
the  wretched  girl  continued  her  downward  career,  and 
a  year  or  two  after,  we  learned  that  she  had  sunk  to 
the  very  lowest  depths  of  shame. 

Once  this  wretched,  disgraced  creature  was  an  ac- 


458  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

tive,  pure,  innocent  little  girl.  Her  father  lavished 
upon  her  numerous  presents,  and  spent  hundreds  of 
dollars  to  obtain  her  recovery  to  health.  Yet  through 
this  awful  vice  she  was  ruined  utterly,  and  rendered 
so  wholly  perverse  and  bad  that  she  had  no  desire  to 
be  better,  no  disposition  to  reform.  God  only  knows 
what  will  be  her  sad  end.  May  none  who  read  these 
lines  ever  follow  in  her  footsteps. 

The  Danger  of  Boarding-Schools.— Some  years 
ago  a  young  lady  came  under  our  medical  care  who 
had  suffered  for  some  time  from  a  serious  nervous 
difficulty  which  had  baffled  the  skill  of  all  the  physi- 
cians who  had  treated  her  case,  and  which  occasioned 
her  a  great  amount  of  suffering,  making  it  necessary 
that  she  should  be  confined  to  her  bed  most  of  the  time, 
the  disease  being  aggravated  by  exercise,  and  the 
patient  having  been  much  weakened  by  its  long  con- 
tinuance. 

All  the  remedies  usually  successful  in  such  cases 
were  employed  with  little  or  no  effect,  and  we  were 
feeling  somewhat  perplexed,  when  the  young  lady  sent 
for  us  one  day,  and  as  we  entered  the  room  she  burst 
into  tears,  and  acknowledged  that  she  had  been  ad- 
dicted to  the  habit  of  self-abuse,  and  that  she  was 
still  suffering  from  involuntary  excitement  during 
sleep.  Having  been  placed  in  a  boarding-school  when 
quite  young,  she  had  there  learned  the  vile  habit,  and 
had  practiced  it  without  knowing  anything  of  the  ill 
effects  or  really  appreciating  its  sinfulness.  When 
she  learned,  some  years  after,  that  the  habit  was  a 
most  pernicious  vice,  and  of  a  character  to  bring  de- 
struction to  both  soul  and  body,  she  endeavored  to  free 
herself  from  its  shackles;  but  she  found  herself  too 
securely  bound  for  escape.    It  seemed,  indeed,  an  utter 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  459 

impossibility.  Her  thoughts  had  long  been  allowed  to 
run  in  sentimental  channels,  and  now  they  would  do  so 
in  spite  of  the  most  earnest  efforts  to  the  contrary, 
during  her  waking  hours;  and  in  sleep  while  the  will 
power  was  not  active,  the  imagination  would  run  riot 
uncontrolled,  leaving  her,  upon  awaking,  exhausted, 
enervated,  and  almost  desperate  with  chagrin.  Know- 
ing that  she  was  daily  suffering  for  her  transgressions, 
she  was  filled  with  remorse  and  regret,  and  would  have 
given  all  to  undo  the  past;  but,  alas!  she  could  not, 
and  could  only  suffer  with  patience  until  relief  could 
be  secured.  Her  love  for  sentimental  literature  occa- 
sioned another  battle  for  her  to  fight;  for  she  could 
scarcely  resist  the  temptation  daily  offered  her  to  while 
away  some  of  the  weary  hours  with  such  stories  of  love 
and  sentiment  as  she  had  been  accustomed  to  enjoy. 
But  she  fought  the  battle  earnestly,  and  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  conquering  the  evil  tendencies  of  her  mind, 
both  wliile  awake  and  when  asleep ;  and  from  that  time 
she  began  to  make  slow  progress  toward  recovery.  The 
last  we  saw  of  her  she  was  doing  well,  and  hoped  in 
time  to  arrive  at  a  very  comfortable  state  of  health. 
A  Desperate  Case.— A  little  girl  about  ten  years 
of  age  was  ])rought  to  us  by  her  father,  who  came  with 
his  daughter  to  have  her  broken  of  the  vile  habit  of 
self-abuse  into  which  she  had  fallen,  having  been  taught 
it  by  a  German  servant  girl.  Having  read  an  early 
copy  of  this  work,  the  father  had  speedily  detected  the 
habit,  and  had  adopted  every  measure  that  he  could 
devise  to  break  his  child  of  the  destructive  vice  which 
she  had  acquired,  but  in  vain.  After  applying  various 
other  measures  without  success,  it  finally  became  nec- 
essary to  resort  to  a  surgical  operation,  by  which  it 
is  hoped  that  she  was  permanently  cured,  as  we  have 


460  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

heard  nothing  to  the  contrary  since,  and  as  the  remedy 
seemed  to  be  effectual.  It  was  a  severe  remedy,  and 
may  seem  a  harsh  one,  but  every  other  means  utterly 
failed,  and  the  father  insisted  upon  the  performance 
of  the  operation  as  a  trial.  This  little  girl,  naturally 
truthful  and  honest,  had,  through  the  influence  of  this 
blighting  vice,  been  made  crafty  and  deceptive.  She 
would  tell  the  most  astonishing  falsehoods  to  free  her- 
self from  the  charge  of  guilt,  or  to  avoid  punishment. 
Her  father  felt  so  deeply  upon  the  subject,  and  was  so 
thoroughly  awake  to  the  consequences  of  the  sin,  that 
he  declared  he  would  take  his  daughter  away  into  the 
wilderness,  and  leave  her  to  die,  if  need  be,  rather  than 
allow  her  to  grow  up  to  womanhood  with  this  vile 
blight  upon  her,  and  run  the  risk  of  her  contaminating 
with  the  same  vice  his  other,  younger  children.  He 
felt  so  deeply  that  the  tears  coursed  down  his  cheeks 
as  he  talked,  and  we  were  most  happy  to  be  of  service 
to  him  in  aiding  his  daughter  to  overcome  the  fasci- 
nating vice.  She  seemed  willing  to  try  to  help  herself, 
but  was  unable  to  break  the  bonds  of  sin  without  the 
extraordinary  measures  adopted. 

We  might  continue  this  rehearsal  of  cases  to  an 
almost  indefinite  length,  but  we  must  bring  this  chapter 
to  a  close.  Those  described  are  only  a  few  examples 
of  the  many  w^e  are  constantly  meeting.  None  have 
been  overdrawn;  for  the  sake  of  delicacy,  much  has 
been  omitted  which  the  exposure  of  the  whole  truth 
would  have  required  us  to  present.  We  sincerely  hope 
that  these  examples  may  be  a  warning  to  those  who 
have  never  marred  their  purity  of  character  by  an 
unchaste  act.  To  those  who  may  have  sinned  in  this 
manner,  let  these  words  come  with  double  force  and 
meaning.     Do  you  value  life,  health,  beauty,  honor, 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  461 

virtue,  purity  ?  Then,  for  the  sake  of  all  these,  abandon 
the  evil  practice  at  once.  Do  not  hesitate  for  a  moment 
to  decide,  and  do  not  turn  back  after  deciding  to  reform. 

A  Last  Word. —Girls,  as  one  who  has  only  your 
best  interests  in  view,  and  who  would  do  you  good,  we 
beg  of  you  to  give  heed  to  that  which  we  have  been 
presenting  before  you.  It  is  of  no  frivolous  character. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  important  subjects  to  which  your 
attention  can  be  called.  Only  those  who  are  utterly 
ignorant  of  the  dangers  which  surround  them  in  the 
world,  or  who  are  already  hardened  in  sin,  will  treat 
this  matter  lightly  or  scornfully.  If  you  are  still  pure, 
and  possess  a  character  unsoiled  by  sin,  thank  God  that 
you  have  been  preserved  until  now,  and  humbly  peti- 
tion him  to  enable  you  to  remain  as  pure  and  unsullied 
as  you  now  are.  Cultivate  all  the  heavenly  graces. 
Make  your  mother  your  confidant  in  all  your  perplexi- 
ties and  trials.  Go  to  her  for  information  on  all  sub- 
jects upon  which  you  find  yourself  ignorant.  Let  no 
foreign  influence  beguile  away  your  confidence  from 
her  who  is  most  worthy  of  your  love  and  respect,  and 
who  is  best  prepared  to  instruct  you  on  all  subjects, 
no  matter  how  delicate.  Trust  in  God  for  help  to  resist 
evil  under  every  guise.  Flee  from  temptation  under 
whatever  form  it  may  appear.  Thus  may  you  escape 
the  suffering,  the  sorrow,  and  the  remorse  which  are 
endured  sooner  or  later  by  all  who  enter  the  road  of  sin, 
no  matter  how  short  a  time  they  may  travel  therein. 

To  those  who  have  already  fallen,  who  have  been 
led  astray,  either  ignorantly  or  through  weakness  in 
yielding  to  temptation,  we  will  say,  Turn  from  your 
evil  way  at  once.  Misery,  sorrow,  anguish,  and  ever- 
lasting ruin  stare  you  in  the  face.  Perdition  is  before 
you.    You  need  not  think  to  escape  the  punishment  that 


462  PLAIN    PACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

others  suffer,  for  there  is  no  way  of  escape.  The 
penalty  will  surely  come.  Make  haste  to  return  to 
the  paths  of  purity  before  it  is  too  late  to  mend  the 
past.  It  may  take  years  of  pure  and  upright  living  to 
repair  the  evil  already  done;  but  do  not  hesitate  to 
begin  at  once.  With  the  help  of  God,  resolve  to  be- 
come pure  again.  God  can  cleanse  you  from  all  un- 
righteousness. He  can  enable  you  to  chase  from  your 
mind  and  heart  every  impure  thought  and  unclean  de- 
sire. Through  his  grace  you  can  successfully  battle 
with  temptation,  and  redeem  the  black  record  of  the 
past. 

TO   BOYS  AND   GIRLS 

We  have  a  few  words  to  say  to  boys  and  girls  to- 
gether. You  are  to  become  the  men  and  women  of  the 
next  generation,  when  your  fathers  and  mothers  have 
retired  from  active  life.  Twenty  years  from  to-day 
the  world  will  be  just  what  the  present  boys  and  girls 
shall  make  it.  Boys  who  are  chaste,  honest,  obedient, 
and  industrious,  will  become  noble  and  useful  men, 
husbands,  and  fathers.  Girls  who  are  pure,  innocent, 
and  dutiful,  will  become  honored  and  lovely  women, 
wives,  and  mothers. 

Boys  and  girls  are  placed  in  families  together,  and 
thus  are  evidently  designed  by  nature  to  associate  to- 
gether, to  obtain  their  education  and  preparation  for 
life  together.  When  secluded  wholly  from  each  other's 
society,  both  suffer  a  loss.  But  while  this  is  true,  it  is 
also  true  that  certain  evils  may  and  often  do  grow  out 
of  the  early  association  of  the  two  sexes,  so  serious  in 
character  that  many  wise  and  good  men  and  women 
have  felt  that  the  sexes  should  be  reared  and  educated 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  463 

apart  as  much  as  possible.  But  these  evils  are  the 
result  of  too  intimate  and  improper  associations  of  boys 
and  girls.  Associations  of  this  sort  must  be  most  sedu- 
lously avoided.  Boys  and  girls  who  are  in  school 
together  must  be  extremely  careful  to  avoid  too  close 
associations.  On  all  occasions  a  modest  reserve  should 
be  maintained  in  the  deportment  of  the  young  of  both 
sexes  toward  each  other.  Too  early  intimacies  often 
lead  to  hasty  marriages,  before  either  party  is  prepared 
to  enter  into  the  married  state,  and  before  the  judgment 
has  been  sufficiently  developed  to  make  either  capable 
of  selecting  a  suitable  partner  for  life.  These  facts 
are  usuallj^  learned  when  it  is  too  late  for  the  informa- 
tion to  be  of  any  value. 

Parents  and  teachers  are  especially  responsible  for 
guarding  these  early  associations,  and  giving  timely 
warning  when  needed.  The  youth  should  always  be 
ready  to  take  advice  on  this  subject,  for  with  their  in- 
experience, they  cannot  know  their  wants  so  well  as  do 
their  elders.  Nothing  is  more  disgusting  to  persons  of 
sound  sense  than  youthful  flirtations.  Those  who  are 
so  misguided  as  to  encourage  these  indiscretions  in 
young  people  do  an  immense  amount  of  injury  to  the 
very  ones  whom  they  ought  to  be  prepared  to  benefit 
by  wise  counsel.  We  have  seen  promising  young  peo- 
ple made  wretched  for  life  through  the  influence  of 
one  of  these  mischief-makers,  being  most  unhappily 
mated,  and  repenting  too  late  of  a  hasty  marriage  for 
which  they  were  utterly  unprepared. 

Young  persons  often  labor  under  the  erroneous  im- 
pression that  in  order  to  be  agreeable  they  must  talk 
''small  talk;"  this  literally  means,  "silly  twaddle," 
which  disgusts  everybody,  and  yet  which  all  seek  to 
imitate.     Whenever  the  two  sexes  meet  in  societv  or 


464  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

elsewhere,  as  at  all  other  times,  the  conversation  should 
be  turned  upon  subjects  of  real  interest,  which  admit 
of  the  exercise  of  sound  sense  and  will  be  a  means  of 
culture.  Such  associations  do  not  result  in  injury  to 
any  one,  and  may  be  the  means  of  much  profit ;  but  noth- 
ing is  more  execrable  than  the  frivolous,  silly,  often 
absolutely  senseless  observations  which  make  up  the 
great  bulk  of  the  conversation  of  young  people  in  fash 
ionable  society. 

A  most  ready  means  of  disclosing  the  superficial 
cnaracter  of  the  minds  of  a  large  share  of  the  young 
persons  who  move  in  fashionable  circles  is  to  intro- 
duce some  topic  requiring  depth  of  thought  and  sound 
judgment.  Such  a  subject  will  usually  produce  either 
an  instant  lull  in  the  conversation,  or  a  display  of 
ignorance  which  cannot  fail  to  reveal  the  shallowness 
of  the  speaker's  intellect.  It  is  this  superficial  class  of 
minds  that  most  easily  fall  victims  to  a  sickly  senti- 
mentalism,  which  readily  leads  to  digressions  from  the 
pathway  of  rigid  virtue. 

A  boy  who  has  the  elements  of  true  manliness  in 
him  will  carry  a  gentlemanly  bearing  wherever  he  goes. 
In  all  his  deportment,  and  especially  in  his  conduct 
toward  the  opposite  sex,  he  will  act  the  gentleman; 
and  the  boy  whose  gentility  is  genuine  will  manifest 
the  same  kind  deference  toward  his  mother  and  sisters 
as  toward  other  ladies  and  girls.  So  also  the  young 
lady  who  is  a  lady  at  heart  will  never  allow  herself 
to  forget  the  rules  of  propriety,  whether  she  is  in  the 
company  of  her  father  and  brothers,  or  that  of  other 
gentlemen. 

All  the  rules  of  etiquette  are  worth  little  compared 
with  the  one  simple  rule  which  is  applicable  to  both 
sexes  and  all  ages,— "Have  the  heart  right,  and  then 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   GIRLS  465 

act  natural."  One  so  governed  will  not  go  very  far 
astray  under  any  circumstances;  but  it  is  of  the  great- 
est importance  that  the  heart  be  right.  To  make  it 
such  is,  indeed,  the  great  business  of  life. 

''Blessed  Are  the  Pure  in  Heart." 


28 


A  CHAPTER  FOR  YOUNG  WOMEN 


THE  young  women  of  a  generation  become  the 
mothers  of  the  next,  and  it  is  of  vital  impor- 
tance that  the  individuals  to  be  born  into  the 
world  come  with  vigorous  constitutions,  free  from  the 
sad  entailments  of  hereditary  disease,  and  prepared 
to  grow  up  into  vigorous,  noble,  useful  men  and  women. 
In  order  that  this  shall  be  the  case,  it  is  necessary  that 
our  young  women  become  intelligent  respecting  those 
functions  of  the  body  which  are  specially  liable  to  be- 
come deranged,  and  which  are  to  be  instrumental  in 
bringing  other  beings  into  life. 

At  the  period  of  puberty,  the  girl  passes,  within  a 
few  months,  from  girlhood  to  young  womanhood.  New 
vital  processes  are  set  up  within  her  body;  new  func- 
tions are  assumed.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  mother  to 
explain  to  her  daughter,  in  advance,  the  import  of  these 
new  processes,  and  to  give  her  such  information  as 
will  enable  her  to  so  care  for  herself  at  this  critical 
period  as  to  prevent  the  great  amount  of  unnecessary 
suffering  which  grows  out  of  the  neglect  arising  from 
ignorance  upon  this  subject.  The  failure  of  mothers 
to  do  their  duty  in  this  respect,  and,  more  than  this, 
the  lamentable  ignorance  of  the  mothers  themselves, 
furnish  ample  reasons  for  the  preparation  of  this  spe- 
cial chapter  in  which  to  impart  the  information  needed, 
and  to  make  such  suggestions  as,  if  carefully  followed, 
will  save  a  vast  amount  of  suffering  and  wretched  use- 
lessness,  or  years  of  invalidism. 

466 


MODEST    MAIDENS 


467 


468 


QUEEN  VASHTl 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   YOUNG   WOMEN  469 

Symptoms  of  Puberty.— As  the  period  of  puberty 
approaches,  the  whole  system  seems  to  take  on  an 
increased  activity.  The  growth  becomes  more  rapid; 
the  hips  begin  to  broaden,  the  abdomen  to  enlarge ;  the 
breasts  increase  in  size;  and  by  degrees  the  various 
changes  in  the  functions  of  the  body,  noted  elsewhere 
as  occurring  at  puberty,  make  their  appearance.  The 
nervous  system  is  also  more  or  less  affected.  Girls  at 
this  age  are  apt  to  be  somewhat  irritable  and  nervous, 
and  in  many  cases  the  first  symptoms  of  a  sentimental 
disposition  make  their  appearance. 

Hygiene  of  Puberty.— The  too  early  appearance 
of  puberty  should  be  looked  upon  as  a  misfortune,  as 
it  predicts,  in  the  great  majority  of  cases,  premature 
decay.  Hence,  if  indications  of  the  approach  of  pu- 
berty appear  at  too  early  an  age,  such  measures  should 
be  adopted  as  will  have  the  effect  to  delay  the  approach- 
ing change.  The  most  important  of  these  are  abundant 
exercise  in  the  open  air,  and  plenty  of  muscular  work, 
though  not  of  an  exhausting  character,  a  simple  diet 
of  fruits,  grains,  and  milk,  with  abstinence  from  flesh 
food,  and  all  excesses  which  tend  to  exhaust  the  nerv- 
ous system. 

In  case  the  indications  are  that  puberty  is  delayed 
beyond  the  proper  time  for  its  appearance,  special 
attention  should  be  given  to  the  girl's  general  health. 
It  is  probable  that  there  is  some  disturbance  of  nutri- 
tion which  prevents  the  appearance  of  the  menstrual 
function  at  the  proper  period.  Whatever  the  cause  is, 
it  should  be  carefully  sought  out  and  corrected.  We 
have  frequently  succeeded  in  bringing  about  the  de- 
sired results  in  these  cases  by  a  few  weeks'  treat- 
ment by  electricity,  massage,  and  systematic  exercise 
in  a  gymnasium,  with  proper  regulation  of  the  diet. 


470  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

These  means  are  almost  uniformly  successful  in  such 
cases. 

A  Critical  Period.— As  the  first  occurrence  of  men- 
struation is  a  very  critical  period  in  the  life  of  a  female, 
and  as  each  recurrence  of  the  function  renders  her  espe- 
cially susceptible  to  morbid  influences,  and  liable  to 
serious  derangements,  a  few  hints  respecting  the  proper 
care  of  an  individual  at  these  periods  may  be  acceptable. 

Important  Hints.— 1.  Avoid  taking  cold.  To  do 
this,  it  is  necessary  to  avoid  exposure;  not  that  a  per- 
son must  be  constantly  confined  in  a  warm  room,  for 
such  a  course  would  be  the  surest  way  in  which  to  in- 
crease the  susceptibility  to  cold.  Nothing  will  disturb 
the  menstrual  process  more  quickly  than  a  sudden 
chilling  of  the  body  when  in  a  state  of  perspiration, 
or,  after  confinement  in  a  warm  room,  exposure  to 
cold  air  without  sufficient  protection.  A  daily  bath 
and  daily  exercise  in  the  open  air  are  the  best  known 
means  of  preventing  colds. 

2.  Intense  mental  excitement,  also  severe  physical 
labor,  are  to  be  sedulously  avoided  during  this  period. 
At  the  time  of  its  first  occurrence,  special  care  should 
be  observed  in  this  direction.  Intense  study,  a  fit  of 
anger,  sudden  grief,  or  even  great  merriment,  will 
sometimes  arrest  the  process  prematurely.  The  feel- 
ing of  malaise  which  usually  accompanies  the  dis- 
charge, is  by  nature  intended  as  a  warning  that  rest 
and  quiet  are  required;  and  the  hint  should  be  fol- 
lowed. Every  endeavor  should  be  made  to  keep  the 
individual  comfortable,  calm,  and  cheerful.  Feelings 
of  apprehension  arising  from  a  continual  watching  of 
symptoms,  are  very  depressing,  and  should  be  avoided 
by  occupying  the  mind  in  some  agreeable  manner  not 
demanding  severe  effort,  either  mental  or  physical. 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    YOUNG    WOMEN  471 

There  is  no  doubt  that  many  young  women  have 
permanently  injured  their  constitutions  while  at  school 
by  excessive  mental  taxation  during  the  catamenial 
period,  to  which  they  were  prompted  by  ambition  to 
excel,  or  were  compelled  by  the  ''cramming"  system 
too  generally  pursued  in  our  schools,  and  particularly 
in  young  ladies'  seminaries.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed, 
however,  that  the  moderate  amount  of  sound  study 
required  by  a  correct  system  of  teaching  would  be  in- 
jurious to  a  healthy  young  woman  at  any  time,  and  we 
have  no  doubt  that  a  very  large  share  of  the  injury 
which  has  been  attributed  to  overstudy  during  the 
catamenia  has  been  induced  by  other  causes,  such  as 
improper  dress,  exposure  to  taking  cold,  keeping  late 
hours,  and  improper  diet. 

If  there  is  any  class  of  persons  deserving  of  pity,  it 
is  that  large  class  of  girls  and  young  women  who  are 
in  every  large  city  employed  as  clerks,  seamstresses, 
flower-makers,  and  in  other  taxing  and  confining  occu- 
pations. In  order  to  keep  their  situations,  they  are 
required  to  be  on  hand  daily,  being  allowed  no  oppor- 
tunity for  rest  at  the  menstrual  period.  In  many  cases, 
too,  they  are  compelled  to  remain  upon  their  feet  all 
day  behind  a  counter,  or  at  a  work  table,  even  at  peri- 
ods when  a  recumbent  position  is  actually  demanded 
by  nature.  There  should  be  less  delicacy  in  relation 
to  this  subject  on  the  part  of  young  women,  and  more 
consideration  on  the  part  of  employers.  Here  is  a  field 
for  philanthropic  effort  which  is  well  worthy  the  best 
efforts  of  any  person  of  influence  who  will  engage  in  it. 

Custom  of  Indian  Women.— The  ease  with  which 
Indian  women  perform  the  parturient  act  is  proverbial. 
They  suffer  scarcely  at  all  from  the  pains  of  childbirth ; 
and  without  doubt  one  reason  of  this  is  the  preservation 


472  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 


of  their  sexual  health  by  rest  during  the  menstrual 
period.  At  those  seasons  they  invariably  absent  them- 
selves from  the  lodge,  and  enjoy  absolute  rest.  We 
may  readily  suppose,  from  the  nature  of  some  of  the 
Mosaic  laws,  that  a  custom  somewhat  similar  prevailed 
among  the  ancient  Hebrew  women.  If  the  hardy  women 
of  the  forest  are  benefited  by  rest,  certainly  our  more 
delicate  civilized  women  may  be  thus  benefited.  All 
need  a  degree  of  rest;  with  some  it  should  be  absolute. 

Criminal  Carelessness.— The  reckless  manner  in 
which  some  young  women  treat  themselves  at  the  men- 
strual period,  is  quite  appallmg  to  one  who  is  ac- 
quainted with  the  painful  and  inveterate  character  of 
the  evils  which  arise  from  such  abuse.  It  is  no  un- 
common thing  for  young  ladies  to  attend  balls,  visit 
skating-rinks,  and  otherwise  expose  themselves  to 
influences  in  every  way  the  best  calculated  to  do  them 
the  most  harm  at  this  particular  period,  observing  not 
the  slightest  precaution.  Such  recklessness  is  really 
criminal;  and  the  sad  consequences  of  physical  trans- 
gression are  sure  to  follow.  A  young  lady  who  allows 
herself  to  get  wet  or  chilled,  just  prior  to  or  during 
menstruation,  runs  the  risk  of  imposing  upon  herself 
lifelong  injury.  Mothers  should  look  carefully  after 
their  daughters  at  these  periods,  and  impress  upon 
them  the  importance  of  special  care. 

3.  A  third  hint,  which  is  applicable  to  both  sexes 
and  at  all  times,  is  the  necessity  of  attending  promptly 
to  the  demands  of  nature  for  the  relief  of  bowels  and 
bladder.  Schoolgirls  are  often  very  negligent  in  this 
respect;  and  we  have  seen  the  most  distressing  cases 
of  disease  entirely  attributable  to  this  disregard  of  the 
promptings  of  nature.  Obstinate  constipation  and 
chronic  irritation  of  the  bladder  are  common  effects. 


A    CHAPTER    FOIl    YOUNG    WOMEN  473 

A^Hien  constipation  results,  purgatives  in  the  shape  of 
pills,  salts,  or  '' pleasant  purgative  pellets,"  are  re- 
sorted to  with  the  certain  effect  of  producing  only  tem- 
porary relief,  and  permanent  damage. 

To  escape  these  evil  consequences,  (1)  establish  a 
regular  habit  of  relieving  the  bowels  daily  at  a  certain 
hour;  (2)  discard  laxative  and  cathartic  drugs  of  every 
kind;  (3)  to  aid  in  securing  a  regular  movement  of  the 
bowels,  make  a  liberal  use  of  oatmeal,  wheatmeal,  fruit, 
and  vegetables,  avoiding  fine-flour  bread,  sweetmeats, 
and  condiments;  (4)  take  daily  exercise,  as  much  as 
possible  short  of  fatigue;  if  necessarily  confined  in- 
doors, counteract  the  constipating  influence  of  sedentary 
habits  by  kneading  and  jiercussing  the  bowels  with  the 
hands  several  minutes  each  day;  (5)  never  resist  the 
calls  of  nature  a  single  moment,  if  possible  to  respond 
to  them.  In  such  cases,  as  in  numerous  others,  ''delay 
is  dangerous."  Ladies  who  desire  a  sweet  breath— 
and  what  lady  does  not?— should  remember  that  re- 
tained feces  is  one  of  the  most  frequent  causes  of  foul 
breath.  The  foul  odors  which  ought  to  pass  out  through 
the  bowels,  find  their  way  into  the  blood,  and  escape 
at  the  lungs.  A  medical  man  whose  sense  of  smell  is 
delicate  soon  learns  to  know  a  constipated  person  by 
his  breath.  As  one  says,  ' '  Wliat  is  more  offensive  than 
the  breath  of  a  costive  child?" 

A  Doctor's  Advice.— Boerhaave,  a  famous  Dutch 
physician,  left  to  his  heirs  an  elegantly  bound  volume 
in  which,  he  claimed,  were  written  all  the  secrets  of  the 
science  of  physic.  After  his  death,  the  wonderful  book 
was  opened,  when  it  was  found  to  contain  only  the  fol- 
lowing sentence: 

"Keep  the  head  cool,  the  feet  warm,  and  the  bowels 
open. ' ' 


474  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

An  old  Scotch  physician  once  gave  the  following 
advice  to  Sir  Astley  Cooper  for  the  preservation  of 
health : 

''Keep  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  your  bowels 
open. ' ' 

4.  Perhaps  nothing  tends  more  directly  to  the  pro- 
duction of  menstrual  derangements,  as  well  as  uterine 
diseases  of  every  sort,  than  fashionable  modes  of  dress. 
We  have  not  sj^ace  here  to  give  the  subject  the  atten- 
tion it  deserves.  It  is  considered  in  the  next  chapter, 
and  more  fully  in  works  devoted  to  the  subject  of  dress 
exclusively.    Some  of  the  most  glaring  evils  are,— 

(1)  Unequal  distribution  of  clothing.  The  trunk, 
especially  the  abdomen  and  pelvis,  is  covered  with 
numerous  layers  of  clothing,  an  extra  amount  being 
caused  by  the  overlapping  of  the  upper  and  lower  gar- 
ments. Very  frequently,  the  amount  of  clothing  upon 
these,  the  most  vital  parts,  is  excessive.  At  the  same 
time,  the  limbs  are  sometimes  almost  in  a  state  of 
nudity.  A  single  cotton  garment,  or  at  most  one  of 
thin  flannel,  is  the  only  protection  to  the  limbs  beneath 
the  skirts,  which  often  serve  no  better  purpose  than  to 
collect  cold  air  and  retain  it  in  contact  with  the  limbs. 
A  thin  stocking  is  the  only  protection  for  the  ankles, 
and  a  thin  shoe  is  the  only  additional  covering  afforded 
the  feet.  Under  such  circumstances,  it  is  no  wonder 
that  a  woman  catches  cold  if  she  only  steps  out-of-doors 
on  a  chilly  or  damp  day. 

(2)  Another  glaring  fault  is  the  manner  of  sus- 
pending the  skirts.  Instead  of  being  fastened  to  a 
waist,  or  suspended  so  as  to  give  them  support  from 
the  shoulders,  they  are  hung  upon  the  hips,  being  drawn 
tight  at  the  waist  to  secure  support.  By  this  means 
the  organs  of  the  pelvis  are  pressed  down  out  of  place, 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    YOUNG    WOMEN  475 

the  uterus  becomes  congested,  and  painful  menstrual 
derangements  ensue. 

(3)  Tight-lacing,  or  compressing  the  waist  with  a 
corset,  is  a  barbarous  practice  which  produces  the  same 
results  as  the  one  last  mentioned.  Reform  in  all  these 
particulars  is  an  imperative  necessity  for  every  woman 
who  desires  to  secure  or  retain  sexual  health. 

It  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  careful  atten- 
tion should  be  given  to  the  proper  establishment  of  the 
menstrual  function  at  the  outset  of  a  woman's  life  of 
sexual  activity.  The  first  two  years  will  be  quite  likely 
to  have  a  deciding  influence  respecting  her  health  dur- 
ing her  whole  future  life.  If  a  girl  can  get  through 
the  first  two  years  after  puberty  without  acquiring 
any  serious  uterine  or  ovarian  disease,  she  will  stand 
a  fair  chance  of  enjoying  a  good  degree  of  sexual 
health  during  the  balance  of  her  life.  The  foundation 
of  a  great  share  of  the  many  thousands  of  cases  of 
uterine  disease  is  laid  during  this  period. 

At  this  early  period  the  daughter  is  usually  too 
young  to  appreciate  the  importance  of  observing  slight 
deviations  from  the  standard  of  health,  even  if  she 
were  sufficiently  informed  to  be  able  to  recognize  them; 
hence  it  is  a  duty  which  no  mother  should  neglect,  to 
inquire  into  the  exact  frequency  of  the  periods,  the 
amount  and  character  of  the  discharge,  and  other  points 
necessary  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  there  is  any  devi- 
ation from  the  natural  condition  of  health.  If  there  is 
pain,  it  is  a  certain  evidence  of  something  seriously 
wrong.  If  there  is  irregularity  in  any  particular,  it  is 
a  matter  well  deserving  serious  attention. 

Other  Perils.  —After  passing  through  the  dangers 
incident  to  the  establishment  of  the  menstrual  function, 
the  young  lady  encounters  dangers  of  a  no  less  perilous 


476  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

character.  Having  become  a  young  lady,  she  must 
now,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  world,  begin  to 
enter  society.  Here  she  meets  all  sorts  of  influences, 
some  good  and  some  bad.  At  least,  this  is  true  of 
society  in  most  civilized  communities.  The  young  lady 
very  soon  discovers  that  if  she  is  to  take  equal  rank 
with  her  associates,  she  must  adopt  their  manners  and 
customs,  to  a  large  extent  at  least. 

Unfortunately,  the  social  customs  in  this  country 
are  strangely  prepared  for  a  powerful  tendency  in  the 
direction  of  evil.  These  influences  soon  begin  to  tell 
upon  the  character  of  a  young  woman  who  has  not  been 
fortified  against  them  with  intelligent  care  and  correct 
early  training,  and  even  these  are  not  always  proof 
against  the  contaminating  influences  with  which  they 
come  in  contact.  Often  enough  has  the  writer  met 
cases  in  which  young  girls  of  only  fifteen  or  sixteen 
years  have  been  permitted  to  enter  the  exciting  whirl- 
pool of  social  life,  and  imitating  the  example  of  their 
elders,  have  accepted  the  attentions  of  young  men  of 
whose  history  they  knew  nothing,  and  of  whose  char- 
acters they  were  in  no  way  competent  to  judge. 

Moonlight  rides,  long  evening  walks,  associations  at 
parties,  picnics,  etc.,  give  sly  privileges,  at  first  appar- 
ently accidental,  but  gradually  becoming  more  auda- 
cious, until  finally,  within  a  few  short  weeks  or  months, 
the  cloak  of  modesty  with  which  the  young  girl 's  maid- 
enhood had  been  protected  was  torn  in  tatters,  and 
she  lacks  but  little,  if  anything,  of  having  taken  all 
the  steps  necessary  to  lead  a  woman  outside  the  pale 
of  virgin  purity.  Thousands  of  girls,  thus  early  thrown 
into  society,  without  experience  in  the  world,  with  im- 
mature minds,  warm-hearted  and  unsuspecting,  are 
annually  led  down  the  road  to  ruin  through  the  oppor- 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   YOUNG   WOMEN  477 

tunities  afforded  by  our  lax  social  manners.  The  care- 
ful mother  will  restrain  her  daughters  from  exposure 
to  any  of  the  temptations  of  fashionable  society  until 
they  have  attained  sufficient  age  and  understanding, 
and  until  their  principles  have  become  so  thoroughly 
established  that  they  cannot  be  so  easily  led  astray. 

"Fast  Girls."— Some  young  women,  like  a  certain 
class  of  young  men,  imagine  that  there  is  something 
particularly  smart  in  being  fast.  A  walk,  a  ride,  or  a 
waltz  with  some  fast  young  man,  perhaps  a  notorious 
rake,  is  an  adventure  which  has  a  peculiar  fascination. 
They  delight  in  those  escapades  and  adventures  which 
startle  old-fashioned  people  who  still  have  some  sense 
of  propriety.  What  is  the  consequence?  These  young 
women  soon  find  their  moral  sense  so  blunted,  that, 
before  they  are  aware  of  it,  they  are  led  to  the  com- 
mission of  acts  which,  but  a  short  time  before,  they 
would  have  regarded  with  the  greatest  horror.  In  an 
unguarded  moment  the  fatal  step  is  taken,  and  mod- 
esty, purity,  and  honor,  all  that  a  woman  holds  most 
sacred,  are  sacrificed,  and  they  are  rapidly  swept  away 
into  the  maelstrom  of  vice. 

Improper  Liberties.— The  first  step  usually  taken 
by  the  young  woman  on  the  downward  road  is  the 
allowance  of  little  liberties  on  the  part  of  young  men. 
Advances  may  be  very  slight  at  first,  perhaps  only  a 
significant  pressure  of  the  hand,  or  the  arm  placed 
about  the  waist,  or  some  similar  impropriety.  By  de- 
grees, increased  liberties  are  taken,  until  the  grossest 
breaches  of  immodesty  are  permitted.  We  are  not 
overstating  when  we  say  that  we  have  met  many  young 
women  who  have  been  led  into  wrong-doing,  who  have 
confessed  that  this  was  the  beginning  of  their  down- 
ward course. 


478  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

Every  young  woman  should  resent  the  first  appear- 
ance of  attentions  of  the  sort  referred  to.  There  is  no 
other  safe  point  at  which  the  line  may  be  drawn.  In- 
deed, we  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  freedom  with  which 
mothers  allow  strangers  to  handle  their  children, 
caressing  and  fondling  them,  has  a  decided  influence 
to  break  down  the  barriers  of  modesty,  and  to  pervert 
the  instincts  so  as  to  prepare  them  for  the  evils  to  which 
we  have  called  attention,  in  later  years. 

Getting  a  Husband.— The  women  who  are  willing 
to  ' '  live  and  die  as  old  maids ' '  are  very  rare  exceptions 
among  the  sex.  The  average  woman  looks  upon  the 
spinster  as  having  the  most  wretched  and  undesirable 
lot  possible;  and  yet  it  is  unquestionably  true  that  the 
average  ^'old  maid"  is  vastly  happier  in  her  lot  and 
more  useful  to  the  world  than  quite  a  large  proportion 
of  wives.  Certainly  there  is  a  vast  deal  of  useful  work 
which  can  be  better  accomplished  by  those  who  can 
give  it  their  undivided  attention,  than  by  those  whose 
minds  and  energies  are  necessarily  devoted  to  husband, 
children,  and  domestic  cares.  We  doubt  not  that  the 
world  would  be  vastly  better  off  if  there  were  a  much 
larger  number  of  useful  old  maids  and  a  less  number 
of  helpless,  good-for-nothing,  sickly  wives.  Neverthe- 
less, the  average  woman  expects  to  marry  sometime, 
and  it  may  be  worth  while  to  devote  a  little  space  to 
the  consideration  of  what  sort  of  a  man  a  husband 
ought  to  be.  In  another  chapter  the  characteristics  of 
persons  of  both  sexes  who  ought  not  to  marry  at  all 
have  been  pointed  out.  A  man  possessing  any  of  the 
defects  named  is  not  tit  to  be  the  husband  of  any  woman 
worthy  of  a  good  husband.  To  the  suggestions  else- 
where made,  we  add  the  following: 

1.  Be  sure  that  the  man  whom  you  accept  as  a  hus- 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   YOUNG   WOMEN  479 

band  is  worth  marrying.  There  are  a  great  many 
excellent  men  in  the  world,  but  probably  by  far  the 
great  majority  of  husbands  are  not  worth  marrying. 
Some  years  ago  we  were  stopping  for  a  few  weeks  at 
a  fashionable  boarding-house  in  Boston.  As  we  were 
preparing  to  leave,  the  young  woman  in  charge  of  the 
dining-room,  having  learned  of  our  connection  with  a 
medical  institution  in  the  West,  desired,  us  to  apply  for 
a  position  in  it  for  her.  As  we  had  been  greatly  pleased 
with  her  efficient  management  of  the  work  she  had  in 
charge,  we  were  strongly  inclined  to  endeavor  to  make 
arrangements  to  employ  her  services,  and  oifered  her, 
by  way  of  encouragement,  some  remark  to  that  effect, 
to  which  she  replied,  "I  suppose  I  ought  to  state  to  you 
that  I  have  an  incumbrance." 

''What  sort  of  an  incumbrance!" 

"  Wliy,  don't  you  understand?    I  have  a  husband." 

We  found  that  she  was  indeed  incumbered  by  a 
good-for-nothing  husband,  which  fact  prevented  our 
engaging  her  services;  and  undoubtedly  the  same  in- 
cumbrance has  been  directly  in  the  way  of  her  getting 
on  in  the  world  ever  since. 

There  are  plenty  of  women  in  the  world  who  are 
capable  of  great  service  to  society  in  various  callings, 
who  are  handicapped  in  the  most  effectual  manner  by 
incumbrances  of  the  same  sort.  If  you  have  an  ambi- 
tion to  do  anything  in  the  world,  or  to  be  anything 
more  than  a  plodding  character  in  the  tide  of  human 
life,  see  to  it  that  the  man  whom  you  are  to  marry  is 
one  who  is  competent  to  aid  you  in  the  attainment  of 
nobility  and  usefulness,  instead  of  being  an  "incum- 
brance" and  a  hindrance. 

2.  Make  yourself  worthy  of  a  good  husband.  Study 
the  arts  of  housekeeping  and  home-making.    Give  more 


480  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

attention  to  the  cultivation  of  estimable  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart  and  character,  to  self -discipline  and 
health-culture,  than  to  external  adornment  of  the  per- 
son. Form  a  high  ideal  of  what  a  grand,  noble,  and  lov- 
able woman  ought  to  be,  and  endeavor  to  become  such. 

3.  Do  not  be  in  too  great  a  hurry,  and  do  not  make 
your  favors  too  cheap.  Maintain  a  maidenly  reserve, 
which  is  vastly  more  attractive  to  intelligent  and  sensi- 
ble men  than  the  bold  and  flashy  manners  of  many 
young  women  of  the  present  day,  which  say  as  dis- 
tinctly as  words  could  speak,  something  like  the  fol- 
lowing : 

''I  am  in  the  matrimonial  market.  Won't  you  buy? 
Speak  quick!  I  am  in  a  hurry  to  be  sold  as  soon  as 
possible. ' ' 

Such  vain  creatures  are  usually  ''sold,"  to  their 
infinite  mortification  and  chagrin.  They  hope  to  catch 
a  great  prize  in  the  shape  of  a  wealthy  or  talented  hus- 
band; whereas,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  they  are  picked 
up  by  some  shallow-brained  fop,  who  is  skilled  only  in 
the  arts  of  deception,  in  which  he  has  trained  himself 
to  such  perfection  as  to  become  an  equal  and  suitable 
match  for  one  of  those  vain  and  flashy  daughters  of 
fashion. 

Again  we  say.  Do  not  be  in  a  hurry.  Wait  and 
work.  Endeavor  to  become  purer  and  better,  and  more 
thoroughly  sincere  and  genuine  in  your  purposes,  and 
you  may  be  sure  that  in  due  time,  and  at  the  right  time, 
the  one  man  who  is  capable  of  making  you  the  best 
possible  husband  will  find  you.  If  j^ou  are  overlooked, 
do  not  begin  to  bemoan  your  lot,  but  be  glad  and  thank- 
ful that  you  are  not  the  wife  of  an  incumbrance,  and 
be  sure  that  in  all  probability,  if  jou  were  not  single, 
you  would  be  in  that  unhappy  predicament. 


482 


WEARY 


A  CHAPTER  FOR  WIVES  AND  MOTHERS 


YOU  have  found  a  husband,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  to 
your  mind,  and  suited  to  you,  and  now  the  ques- 
tion is,  Wliat  are  you  going  to  do  with  him  or 
for  him!  In  the  first  place,  "make  him  a  pleasant, 
cheerful,  tidy  home.  Take  good  care  of  him.  Par- 
ticularly, take  good  care  of  his  stomach,  by  supplying 
him  with  pure,  wholesome  food.  If  3"ou  can  keep  his 
digestion  good,  you  can  rely  upon  his  keeping  his  tem- 
per, unless  he  is  an  extraordinarily  ill-tempered  man. 
Be  careful  always  to  treat  him  well,  and  demand  that 
he  should  treat  you  well.  Treat  him  respectfully,  and 
insist  that  he  shall  treat  you  respectfully  in  return. 
Respect  his  rights  of  conscience,  and  require  him  to 
respect  yours.  Humor  him  a  little,  especially  if  you 
are  in  the  right,  and  he  in  the  wrong.  You  can  afford 
to  b(^  generous  and  liberal  if  you  have  the  right  on 
your  side,  in  which  case  you  will  certainly  come  out 
ahead  in  the  long  run. 

Never  allow  your  undoubted  rights  to  be  trampled 
upon  without  protest.  What  are  married  women's 
rights  ?  we  are  asked.  Some  women  imagine  that  when 
married,  all  their  rights  become  subject  to  their  hus- 
band's wishes.  This  is  a  mistake.  Both  human  and 
divine  laws  recognize  the  fact  that  a  woman  possesses 
individual  rights  of  which  she  cannot  be  deprived,  even 
by  her  husband.  One  of  these  is  the  right  of  conscience. 
No  woman  is  ever  called  upon  to  sacrifice  the  demands 
of  conscience   to  the  wishes  of  her  husband. 


483 


484  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Another  right  which  every  wife  possesses  is  the 
right  to  control  her  own  person;  that  is,  she  is  master 
of  her  own  body,  and  is  under  no  physical  or  moral 
obligation  to  submit  to  demands  made  upon  her  by  her 
husband  unless  her  own  instincts  lead  in  the  same 
direction.  Many  other  minor  rights  might  be  men- 
tioned, but  these  are  the  most  important,  and  perhaps 
the  only  ones  concerning  which  any  serious  question 
is  likely  to  arise. 

The  Young  Mother.— One  of  the  natural  results 
of  marriage  is  motherhood.  This  function  has,  how- 
ever, in  this  perverted  age,  come  to  be  looked  upon  as 
a  burden,  and  by  some,  almost  a  disgrace.  There  prob- 
ably never  was  a  time  like  the  present,  when  paternity 
is  avoided  by  every  conceivable  device.  Some  of  the 
numerous  evils  which  grow  out  of  the  reluctance  on 
the  part  of  women  to  fulfill  the  most  important  func- 
tion of  womanhood,  have  been  pointed  out  elsewhere 
in  this  work,  and  need  not  be  recapitulated  here. 

Pregnancy.— The  leading  signs  of  pregnancy  are 
as  follows: 

1.  Cessation  of  Menstruation.  This  is  generally  the 
first  evidence  of  conception,  and  is  usually  reckoned  as 
the  beginning  of  the  period  of  gestation,  or  pregnancy. 
It  sometimes  happens,  however,  that  menstruation  con- 
tinues during  the  whole  period  of  pregnancy. 

2.  Morning  Sickness  is  a  symptom  which  usually 
appears  early  in  the  second  month,  sometimes,  even  in 
the  first  week.  The  patient  experiences  nausea  just 
after  rising  in  the  morning,  which  is  sometimes  accom- 
panied by  vomiting. 

3.  Change  in  the  Breasts.  By  the  middle  or  end  of 
the  second  month,  the  breasts  begin  to  enlarge,  becom- 
ing firmer  to  the  touch,  and  also  somewhat  sensitive. 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    WIVES   AND    MOTHERS  485 

The  nipple  becomes  darker  in  color,  and  the  ring 
around  it,  technically  termed  the  areola,  also  acquires 
a  deeper  hue,  and  extends  its  circle.  Little  tubercules 
make  their  appearance  upon  the  surface.  At  this 
period,  dark  spots,  closely  resembling  liver  spots,  make 
their  appearance  upon  the  face  and  hands.  These  dif- 
fer from  liver  spots  in  that  they  usually  disappear  verj^ 
speedily  after  childbirth. 

4.  Increase  in  the  Size  of  the  Wonih.  By  the  end  of 
the  second  month,  the  womb  acquires  sufficient  increase 
in  size  to  cause  it  to  settle  down  into  the  pelvis,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  the  abdomen  acquires  an  unnatural 
flatness  characteristic  of  this  condition. 

5.  Beating  of  the  Fetal  Heart.  Between  the  third 
and  fourth  months,  the  fetus  has  attained  sufficient 
growth  to  enable  the  experienced  observer  to  hear  the 
beating  of  the  heart.  This  is  the  first  sign  of  preg- 
nancy. The  beating  of  the  fetal  heart  is  to  be  distin- 
guished from  that  of  the  mother  by  its  frequency,  which 
is  usually  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  or  one  hundred 
and  fifty  beats  per  minute. 

6.  Quickening.  This  term  is  usually  applied  to  the 
first  feeling  of  the  movements  of  the  child  by  the 
mother.  They  may  be  felt  any  time  by  a  quick  tap  on 
the  abdomen. 

7.  Continued  enlargement  of  the  fetus  takes  place 
from  its  rapid  growth  at  this  time. 

8.  Near  the  termination  of  pregnancy,  the  uterus 
becomes  so  greatly  enlarged  that  severe  pressure  is 
made  upon  the  stomach,  which  occasions  a  return  of 
the  nausea  and  vomiting. 

9.  Leucorrhea.  During  the  last  few  weeks  of  preg- 
nancy, the  congested  state  of  the  blood  vessels  of  the 
vagina  occasions  a  leucorrheal  discharge. 

2t» 


486  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

10.  Settling  of  the  Womh.  At  the  termination  of  the 
pregnancy,  just  prior  to  childbirth,  the  womb  again 
settles  down  into  the  pelvis,  causing  a  change  in  the 
shape  of  the  abdomen. 

The  Curse  Removed.— Most  women  look  forward 
to  the  period  of  childbirth  with  great  apprehension  and 
anxiety,  in  consequence  of  the  great  suffering  which 
must  be  endured,  and  the  no  small  peril  to  life  and 
health  which  are  involved.  Quite  an  extensive  observa- 
tion has  convinced  us,  however,  that  a  large  share  of 
the  suffering  and  danger  may  be  obviated  by  careful 
preparation  for  the  event.  The  following  suggestions 
are  particularly  important: 

1.  The  diet  should  consist  chiefly  of  fruits,  grains, 
and  milk.  The  practice  of  drinking  one  or  two  glasses 
of  water  an  hour  before  each  meal  is  an  excellent  meas- 
ure of  preventing  disease  of  the  kidneys.  Tea  and 
coffee  should  be  discarded,  as  they  cause  a  decided 
increase  of  the  tendency  to  morning  sickness,  besides 
producing  nervous  irritability.  Stimulants  and  condi- 
ments of  all  sorts  should  be  scrupulously  avoided.  The 
avoidance  of  oatmeal  and  other  grains  which  furnish  a 
large  amount  of  bone-making  material,  is  a  doctrine 
without  scientific  foundation,  as  we  have  elsewhere 
shown  at  some  length. 

2.  An  abundance  of  vigorous  muscular  exercise 
should  be  taken  daily.  All  the  muscles  of  the  body 
should  be  exercised,  particularly  those  of  the  abdomen. 
By  these  means  some  of  the  most  troublesome  complica- 
tions of  labor  may  be  avoided,  and  the  birth  made  easy. 
Among  the  leading  causes  of  painful  childbirth,  are 
sedentary  habits.  The  mother  should  take  regular  ex- 
ercise,  even  up  to  the  last  day.  Walking  is  an  excellent 
form  of  exercise;  and  when  this  can  be  supplemented 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    WIVES   AND    MOTHERS  487 


by  massage,  and  particularly  by  careful  kneading  of 
the  abdominal  muscles,  very  great  advantage  may  be 
gained. 

3.  Tight-lacing,  the  suspending  of  heavy  skirts  from 
the  waist,  and  other  errors  in  dress,  are  so  manifestly 
evil  that  we  scarcely  need  take  space  to  condemn  them. 
Yet  some  women  will  even  insist  on  wearing  corsets 
during  pregnancy,  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  their 
form.  This  is  a  practice  so  wicked  and  pernicious  that 
in  our  opinion  it  ought  to  be  prohibited  by  law. 

4.  Baths  of  various  sorts  are  of  immense  advantage 
in  securing  easy  childbirth.  A  general  bath  should  be 
taken  at  least  twice  a  week.  A  warm  vaginal  injection 
should  be  taken  daily.  The  temperature  of  the  water 
should  be  95°  to  100°.  A  little  fine  castile  soap  should 
be  used  to  secure  perfect  cleanliness  of  the  parts.  By 
this  means  the  troublesome  leucorrheal  discharge,  and 
the  annoying  itching  which  frequently  attends  it,  may 
usually  be  wholly  controlled,  if  not  entirely  prevented. 
A  sitz  bath  taken  during  the  early  months  once  or 
twice  a  week,  and  during  the  last  two  or  three  months 
daily,  or  every  other  day,  is  very  beneficial.  The  tem- 
perature of  the  bath  should  be  from  90°  to  94°,  and 
should  be  continued  twenty  or  thirty  minutes.  In  tak- 
ing the  bath,  great  care  should  be  exercised  not  to 
produce  any  shock  to  the  patient  by  the  sudden  appli- 
cation of  either  very  hot  or  very  cold  water. 

A  Hayti  Mother.— The  freedom  from  pain  in 
childbirth  enjoyed  by  barbarous  nations  is  to  the  civi- 
lized woman  a  matter  of  wonder  and  amazement.  The 
same  immunity  from  suffering  is  enjoyed  by  negro 
women,  and  by  those  of  various  other  nations.  A  friend 
of  the  writer,  an  old  sea  captain,  recently  related  in 
substance  the  following  incident: 


488  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 


While  living  at  Hayti  a  few  years  ago,  as  he  was 
driving  one  morning,  he  passed  his  washerwoman, 
who  with  a  huge  basket  of  soiled  clothes  on  her  head, 
was  walking  two  or  three  miles  into  the  country  to  a 
little  lake,  which  she  used  for  a  washtub  in  her  laundry 
operations.  On  returning  in  the  evening  over  the  same 
route,  he  again  passed  the  woman,  returning  with  her 
basket  filled  with  spotless  linen,  carrying  a  new-born 
babe  in  her  arms.  It  was  evident  that  she  had  not  al- 
lowed the  small  incident  of  a  childbirth  to  interfere 
with  the  regular  business  of  the  day. 

We  would  not  attempt  to  maintain  that  all  women 
can  bear  children  as  easily  as  the  Hayti  washerwoman, 
even  if  most  careful  attention  is  given  to  all  the  rules 
of  health.  Among  the  most  highly  civilized  nations, 
especially  the  Caucasian  race,  the  neglect  of  physical 
culture  has  produced  disproportionate  development 
between  the  head  and  other  portions  of  the  body,  which 
is  unquestionably  one  cause  of  suffering  at  childbirth, 
and  cannot  be  wholly  obviated  by  any  attention  to  gen- 
eral or  special  hygiene ;  but  that  the  sufferings  of  child- 
birth are  greatly  mitigated,  and  in  many  cases  almost 
wholly  prevented,  we  are  positively  assured  by  experi- 
ence with  scores  of  women  who  have  faithfully  carried 
out  the  simple  suggestions  made  in  this  and  other  works 
in  which  we  have  presented  this  important  subject. 

Ante-Natal  Influences.— There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  many  circumstances  which  are  entirely  within  the 
power  of  the  parents  to  supply,  exert  a  powerful  influ- 
ence in  molding  both  the  mental  and  the  physical  char- 
acteristics of  offspring.  The  stock-raiser,  by  carefully 
availing  himself  of  the  controlling  power  given  him 
by  a  knowledge  of  this  fact,  is  enabled  to  produce' 
almost   any   required   quality   in   his   young   animals. 


Common    Sense    Mef/ioc/s 
(  From       Healthful  /)ress    Sustem  "Paniphler   ) 


Exposed    Neck  Profected    Neck 

Wrists    and  Ankles  Wrists   and  Ankles 


Better    than   a  Belt 


ESSENTIALS  OF  HEALTHFUL  DRESS 


489 


490-a 


CAREFUL   BREEDING 


490-b 


NEGLECTED  PROGENY 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   WIVES   AND    MOTHERS  491 

Pigeon  fanciers  sliow  wonderful  skill  in  thus  producing 
most  curious  modifications  in  birds.  The  laws  of 
heredity  and  development  are  carefully  studied  and 
applied  in  the  production  of  superior  horses,  cows, 
dogs,  and  pigeons ;  but  an  application  of  the  same  prin- 
cjples  to  the  improvement  of  the  human  race  is  rarely 
thought  of.  Human  beings  are  generated  in  as  hap- 
hazard and  reckless  a  manner  as  weeds  are  sown  by 
the  wind.  No  account  is  taken  of  the  possible  influence 
which  may  be  exerted  upon  the  future  destiny  of  the 
new  being  ])y  the  physical  or  mental  condition  of  par- 
ents at  the  moment  when  the  germ  of  life  is  planted, 
or  by  the  mental  and  physical  conditi  ons  and  surround- 
ings of  the  mother  while  the  young  life  is  developing. 
Indeed,  the  assertion  of  a  modern  writer  that  the  poor 
of  our  great  cities  virtually  "spawn"  children,  with  as 
little  thought  of  influences  and  consequences  as  the  fish 
that  sow  their  eggs  broadcast  upon  the  waters,  is  not 
so  great  an  exaggeration  as  it  might  at  first  sight  ap- 
pear to  be. 

Law  Universal.— Men  and  women  are  constantly 
prone  to  forget  that  the  domain  of  law  is  universal. 
Nothing  comes  by  chance.  The  revolutions  of  the  plan- 
ets, studied  by  the  aid  of  the  telescope;  and  the  gyra- 
tions of  the  atoms,  seen  only  by  the  eye  of  science, 
are  alike  examples  of  the  controlling  influence  of  law. 
Notwithstanding  this  sad  ignorance  and  the  disregard 
of  this  vitally  important  subject,  the  effects  of  law  are 
only  too  clearly  manifested  in  the  crowds  of  wretched 
human  beings  with  which  the  world  is  thronged.  An 
old  writer  sagely  remarks,  '^It  is  the  greatest  part  of 
human  felicity  to  be  well  born ; ' '  nevertheless,  it  is  the 
sad  misfortune  of  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  human- 
ity to  be  deprived  of  this  inestimable  ''felicity." 


492  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 


A  Source  of  Crime.— AVlio  can  tell  liow  many  of 
the  liars,  thieves,  drunkards,  murderers,  and  prostitutes 
of  our  day  are  less  responsible  for  their  crimes  against 
themselves,  against  society,  and  against  Heaven,  than 
those  who  were  instrumental  in  bringing  them  into  the 
world?  Almost  every  village  has  its  boy  "who  was 
born  drunk,"  a  staggering,  simpering,  idiotic  repre- 
sentative of  a  drunken  father,  beastly  intoxicated  at 
the  very  moment  when  he  should  have  been  most  sober. 

An  interesting  study  of  this  question  has  been 
made  public  by  Mr.  Dugdale,  a  member  of  the  Prison 
Association  of  the  State  of  New  York.  When  visiting 
the  various  jails  o^  the  State,  he  found  in  one,  six  crimi- 
nals, between  all  of  whom  there  was  a  family  relation. 
Upon  further  inquiry,  he  found  that  of  the  same 
family  there  were  twenty-nine  relatives  in  the  vicinity, 
seventeen  of  whom  were  criminals.  Still  further  inves- 
tigation developed  the  following  facts: 

A  Bad  Family.— Within  seventy-five  years,  1,200 
persons  have  s^Drung  from  five  sisters,  several  of  whom 
were  illegitimate,  and  three  of  whom  were  known  to 
be  unchaste,  and  who  married  men  whose  father  was 
an  idle,  thriftless  hunter,  a  hard  drinker,  and  licentious. 

Of  this  family,  the  history  of  about  709  was  traced. 
Of  these,  the  facts  set  forth  in  the  following  incomplete 
summary  were  found  to  be  true: 

Paupers 280 

Years  of  pauperism  798 

Criminals 140 

Years  of  infamy , 750 

Thieves 60 

Murderers , 7 

Prostitutes  and  adulteresses 165 

Illegitimate  children 91 

No.  of  persons  contaminated  by  syphilitic  disease  . . .  480 

Cost  to  the  State  in  various  ways $1,308,000 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    WIVES   AND    MOTHERS  493 

Without  doubt,  a  complete  summary  would  make 
this  showing  still  more  appalling,  since  of  the  709  whose 
histories  were  traced,  it  was  in  many  instances  impos- 
sible to  determine  that  the  individuals  were  guilty  of 
crime  or  unchastity,  even  where  there  were  grounds  for 
suspicion.  Such  cases  were  not  included  in  the  sum- 
mary. 

No  amount  of  argument  on  this  question  could  be 
so  conclusive  as  are  these  simple  facts  concerning  the 
*'Juke"  family.  It  is  certainly  high  time  that  our 
legislators  began  to  awaken  to  this  subject,  and  con- 
sider whether  it  would  be  an  unprofitable  experiment 
to  make  some  attempt  to  prevent  the  multiplication 
of  criminals  in  this  manner.  We  are  not  prepared  to 
offer  a  plan  for  securing  an  end;  but  it  is  very  clearly 
important  that  something  should  be  done  in  this 
direction. 

A  Physiological  Fact.— It  is  an  established  physi- 
ological fact  that  the  character  of  offspring  is  influ- 
enced 'by  the  mental  as  well  as  the  physical  conditions 
of  the  parents  at  the  moment  of  the  performance  of 
the  generative  act.  In  view  of  this  fact,  how  many 
parents  can  regard  the  precocious,  or  even  mature, 
manifestations  of  sexual  depravity  in  their  children 
without  painful  smitings  of  conscience  at  seeing  the 
legitimate  results  of  their  own  sensuality?  By  debas- 
ing the  reproductive  function  to  an  act  of  selfish,  sen- 
sual indulgence,  they  imprinted  upon  their  children  an 
almost  irresistible  tendency  to  vice.  Viewing  tlie  mat- 
ter from  this  standpoint,  what  wonder  that  licentious- 
ness is  rife!  that  true  chastity  is  among  the  rarest  of 
virtues ! 

Prof.  0.  W.  Holmes  remarks  on  this  subject: 
''There  are  people  who  think  that  everything  may  be 


494  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

done  if  the  doctor,  be  he  educator  or  physician,  be  only 
called  in  season.  No  doubt ;  but  in  season  would  often 
be  a  hundred  or  two  years  before  the  child  was  born, 
and  people  never  send  so  early  as  that."  "  Each  of  us 
is  only  the  footing  up  of  a  double  column  of  figures 
that  goes  back  to  the  first  pair.  Every  unit  tells,  and 
some  of  them  are  plus  and  some  minus.  If  the  col- 
umns don't  add  up  right,  it  is  commonly  because  we 
can 't  make  out  all  of  the  figures. ' ' 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  throngs  of  deaf,  blind, 
crippled,  idiotic  unfortunates  who  were  "born  so," 
together  with  a  still  larger  class  of  dwarfed,  diseased, 
and  constitutionally  weak  individuals,  are  the  lament- 
able results  of  the  violation  of  some  sexual  law  on  the 
part  of  their  progenitors. 

Something  for  Parents  to  Consider.— If  parents 
would  stop  a  moment  to  consider  the  momentous  re- 
sponsibilities involved  in  the  act  of  bringing  into  exist- 
ence a  human  being;  if  they  would  reflect  that  the 
qualities  imparted  to  the  new  being  will  affect  its  char- 
acter to  all  eternity;  if  they  would  recall  the  fact  that 
they  are  about  to  bring  into  existence  a  mirror  in  which 
will  be  reflected  their  own  characters  divested  of  all 
the  flimsy  fabrics  which  deceive  their  fellowmen,  re- 
vealing even  the  secret  imaginings  of  their  hearts,  there 
would  surely  be  far  less  of  sin,  disease,  and  misery 
born  into  the  world  than  at  the  present  day;  but  we 
dare  not  hope  for  such  a  reform.  To  effect  it  would 
require  such  a  revolution  in  the  customs  of  society, 
such  a  radical  reform  in  the  habits  and  characters  of 
individuals,  as  could  be  done  by  nothing  short  of  a  tem- 
poral millennium. 

It  is  quite  probable  that  some  writers  have  greatly 
exaggerated  the  possible  results  which  may  be  attained 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    WIVES   AND    MOTHERS  495 

by  proper  attention  to  the  laws  under  consideration. 
All  cannot  be  equally  beautiful ;  every  child  cannot  be 
a  genius;  the  influence  of  six  thousand  years  of  trans- 
gression cannot  be  effaced  in  a  single  generation;  but 
persevering,  conscientious  efforts  to  comply  with  every 
requirement  of  health,  purity,  morality,  and  the  laws 
of  nature,  will  accomplish  wonders  in  securing  healthy 
children  with  good  dispositions,  brilliant  intellects,  and 
beautiful  bodies. 

This  is  not  the  proper  place  to  describe  in  detail  a 
plan  to  be  pursued;  but  the  few  hints  given,  if  rightly 
appreciated,  may  enable  those  interested  in  the  subject 
to  plan  for  themselves  a  proper  course.  In  concluding 
the  subject,  we  may  summarize  its  chief  points  as  fol- 
lows, for  the  purpose  of  impressing  them  more  fully 
upon  the  mind : 

The  Origin  of  Evil.— 1.  If  a  child  is  begotten  in 
lust,  its  lower  passions  will  as  certainly  be  abnormally 
develoj^ed  as  peas  will  produce  peas,  or  potatoes  pro- 
duce potatoes.  If  the  child  does  not  become  a  rake  or 
a  prostitute,  it  will  be  because  of  uncommonly  fortu- 
nate surroundings,  or  a  miracle  of  divine  grace.  But 
even  then,  what  terrible  struggles  with  sin  and  vice, 
with  foul  thoughts  and  lewd  imaginations,— the  product 
of  a  naturally  abnormal  mind,— must  such  an  individ- 
ual suffer!  If  he  is  unsuccessful  in  the  conflict,  is  he 
alone  to  blame?  Society,  his  fellowmen,  will  censure 
him  alone ;  but  He  who  knoweth  all  the  secrets  of  human 
life  will  pass  a  more  lenient  judgment  on  the  erring 
one,  and  mete  out  punishment  where  it  most  belongs. 

2.  The  same  remarks  apply  with  equal  force  to  the 
transmission  of  other  qualities.  If  the  interest  of  the 
parents  is  only  for  self,  with  no  thought  for  the  well- 
being  of  the  one  whose  destiny  is  in  their  hands,  they 


496  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

can  expect  naught  but  a  selfish  character,  a  sordid, 
greedy  disposition,  in  the  child. 

3.  The  influence  of  the  father  is,  at  the  outset,  as 
great  as  that  of  the  mother.  The  unhappy  or  immoral 
thoughts  of  one  alone  at  the  critical  moment  when  life 
is  imparted,  may  fix  for  eternity  a  foul  blot  upon  the 
character  yet  unformed. 

4.  If,  during  gestation,  the  mother  is  fretful,  com- 
plaining, and  exacting;  if  she  requires  to  be  petted  and 
waited  upon;  if  she  gratifies  every  idle  whim  and  in- 
dulges every  depraved  desire  and  perverted  appetite, 
as  thousands  of  mothers  do,— the  result  will  surely  be 
a  peevish,  fretful  child,  that  will  develop  into  a  morose 
and  irritable  man  or  woman,  imperious,  unthankful, 
disobedient,  wilful,  gluttonous,   and  vicious. 

How  to  Beget  Sound  Children.— If  such  unde- 
sirable results  would  be  avoided,  the  following  sugges- 
tions should  be  regarded: 

1.  For  the  beginning  of  a  new  life,  select  the  most 
favorable  time,  which  will  be  when  the  bodily  health 
is  at  its  height;  when  the  mind  is  free  from  care  and 
anxiety;  when  the  heart  is  joyous,  cheerful,  and  filled 
with  hope,  love,  high  aspirations,  pure  and  beautiful 
thoughts.  If,  as  one  writer  says,  it  is  the  duty  of  every 
human  pair  engaging  in  the  reproductive  act,  to  bring 
into  existence  the  most  perfect  specimen  of  the  race  of 
which  they  are  capable,  then  it  becomes  a  monstrous 
crime  to  enter  into  relations  which  may  produce  a  con- 
trary result.  This  may  be  a  truth  hard  to  accept,  but 
who  is  prepared  to  dispute  it  on  logical  or  moral 
grounds  ? 

2.  If  a  child  has  been  properly  conceived,  the  duty 
then  devolves  upon  the  mother  to  secure  its  proper 
development.    Is  beauty  desired,  let  the  mother  be  sur- 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    WIVES    AND    MOTHERS  497 

rounded  with  beautiful  objects ;  and  let  her  mind  dwell 
upon  such  objects.  If  an  active  mind  and  brilliant 
intellect  are  required,  the  mother  should  devote  con- 
siderable time  to  study  and  mental  labor  of  a  pleasant 
nature.  The  moral  nature  should  be  carefully  culti- 
vated, to  insure  a  lovely  disposition.  No  angry  words 
or  unhappy  feelings  should  be  tolerated.  Purity  of 
heart  and  life  should  be  maintained.  The  husband 
should  do  his  part  by  supplying  favorable  surround- 
ings, suggesting  cheerful  thoughts,  and  aiding  mental 
culture. 

3.  After  birth,  the  mother  still  possesses  a  molding 
influence  upon  the  development  of  her  child  through 
the  lacteal  secretion.  Every  mother  knows  how  speed- 
ily the  child  will  suffer  if  nursed  when  she  is  exhausted 
by  physical  labor  or  when  suffering  from  nervous  ex- 
citement, as  anger  or  grief.  These  facts  show  the  influ- 
ence which  the  mental  states  of  the  mother  exert  upon 
the  child,  even  when  the  act  of  nursing  is  the  only 
physical  bond  between  them. 

It  will  be  a  happy  day  for  the  race  if  ever  parents 
recognize  the  fact  that  infants,  even  human  beings  in 
embryo,  possess  rights  which  are  as  sacred  as  those  of 
adult  human  beings. 

This  whole  subject  is  more  fully  treated  by  the 
author  in  special  works,  full  information  concerning 
which  can  be  obtained  by  those  wishing  to  know  more 
on  this  subject. 


HYGIENE  FOR  WOMEN  IN  ADVANCED  LIFE 


CHANGE  OF  LIFE.-The  two  most  important 
periods  in  a  woman's  life  are  those  which  mark 
the  beginning  and  the  end  of  the  menstrual 
function.  The  duration  of  sexual  activity  in  women  is 
usually  thirty-two  years,  extending  from  the  average 
age  of  thirteen  to  forty-five  or  forty-six.  There  is 
great  individual  variation  in  this  respect,  however,  the 
termination  of  the  menstrual  function  in  some  persons 
occurring  as  early  as  the  thirtieth  year,  while  in  others 
it  is  delayed  until  the  age  of  sixty  or  upward.  In  a 
case  under  the  author's  care  a  few  years  ago,  the  pa- 
tient, aged  sixty,  was  still  menstruating  regularly.  It 
is  never  possible  to  predict  with  any  degree  of  accu- 
racy just  at  what  age  the  change  of  life,  or  menopause, 
will  occur. 

The  physical  changes  which  occur  at  the  change  of 
life  are  the  opposite  to  those  which  mark  the  period  of 
puberty.  The  ovaries,  womb,  and  vagina  undergo  a 
process  of  atrophy,  or  shrinkage,  by  which  they  become 
reduced  to  a  smaller  size  than  before  development 
occurred. 

The  symptoms  which  mark  the  beginning  of  the 
change  of  life  are :  irregularity  of  the  menses,  both  as 
to  time  and  quantity;  nervousness  and  general  decline 
of  health,  signified  by  loss  of  flesh,  and  various  disturb- 
ances in  the  stomach,  bowels,  bladder,  and  other  organs ; 
occasionally  eruptions  of  the  skin,  particularly  upon 
the  face;  sometimes  a  slight  growth  of  hair  upon  the 
upper  lip;  suffering  from  neuralgia,  nervousness,  and 

498 


HYGIENE    FOR    WOMEN    IN    ADVANCED    LIFE  499 

sometimes  hysteria;  complaint  of  sudden  flushing  of 
tlie  face,  or  "rush  of  blood  to  the  head;"  the  hands, 
legs,  and  trunk  of  the  body  sometimes  affected,  as  well 
as  the  head  and  face.  These  flushings  are  sudden,  and 
usually  last  but  a  few  minutes,  and  are  followed  by 
profuse  perspiration.  Sometimes  a  perspiration  does 
not  occur,  a  condition  known  as  ' '  dry  flushing, ' '  which 
is  much  more  distressing  than  the  ordinary  form,  tak- 
ing its  place.  Profuse  perspiration  sometimes  occurs 
during  sleep,  and  is  very  likely  to  follow  excitement, 
either  mental  or  nervous.  A  great  variety  of  other 
symptoms,  involving  nearly  every  organ  of  the  body, 
are  present  during  this  period. 

One  of  the  dangers  which  should  be  especially  men- 
tioned is  the  liability  of  morbid  growths  to  make  their 
appearance  at  this  time.  Various  tumors  of  the  womb, 
as  fibroids  and  cancers,  select  this  as  their  favorite  time 
of  attack.  A  cancer  is  not  likely  to  occur,  however, 
unless  the  womb  has  sometime  been  torn  at  childbirth, 
and  through  neglect  the  laceration  has  not  been  re- 
paired. Growths  of  the  urethra  are  not  unlikely  to 
occur  at  this  time. 

Hygiene  of  the  Menopause.— Many  of  the  ills  to 
which  women  are  subject  at  this  period  may  be  avoided 
by  proper  preventive  measures.  Pre-existing  disease 
of  the  womb,  which  through  neglect  or  improper  treat- 
ment has  not  been  cured,  lays  the  foundation  for  much 
suffering  at  this  time.  It  is  indeed  probable  that  pre- 
vious womb  disease  is  the  leading  cause  of  suffering 
at  this  period,  as  it  is  hardly  supposable  that  in  the 
normal  state  such  vital  disturbances  and  great  suffer- 
ing as  are  observed  at  this  period  would  occur.  This 
emphasizes  the  importance  of  adopting  such  measures 
as  will  secure  relief  from  whatever  local  disorders  may 


500  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

exist  before  this  period  arrives,  thus  avoiding  much  of 
the  inconvenience  and  suffering  of  later  years,  to  which 
the  individual  will  otherwise  be  exposed.  The  follow- 
ing suggestions  will  be  found  of  especial  service  in 
preventing  and  mitigating  the  sufferings  attendant  at 
this  period: 

1.  Individuals  passing  through  the  change  of  life 
should  be  relieved  from  all  burdensome  cares,  and 
should  be  kept  free  from  all  sources  of  worry  and 
excitement.  Cheerfulness  and  harmony  of  spirits  are 
particularly  important.  If  this  cannot  be  obtained  at 
home,  arrangements  should  be  made  for  the  patient 
to  go  to  some  suitable  place  away  from  home  for  a 
few  weeks  or  months. 

2.  Special  attention  should  be  given  to  diet,  which 
should  be  simple,  wholesome,  and  nourishing,  but  free 
from  exciting  stimulants  of  all  sorts.  Tea  and  coffee, 
as  well  as  all  other  narcotics  and  stimulants,  should 
be  studiously  avoided.  The  enforcement  of  this  rule 
is  sometimes  difficult,  owing  to  the  intense  craving  for 
nerve  stimulants  which  many  women  experience  at  this 
period.  Bitters  and  patent  medicines  of  all  sorts  do  a 
great  deal  of  mischief  when  employed  as  they  are  apt 
to  be.  Their  use  is  wholly  without  good  results,  and 
is  often  productive  of  almost  irreparable  damage. 

3.  The  general  health  should  be  maintained  by  all 
possible  means.  Outdoor  exercises,  carriage-riding 
when  the  patient  is  unable  to  take  a  sufficient  amount 
of  exercise  by  walking,  are  to  be  commended.  Careful 
attention  should  be  given  to  the  bowels,  which  may  be 
kept  regular  by  the  use  of  coarse  grains  and  an  abun- 
dance of  fruit. 

4.  The  flushings  or  profuse  j^erspi rations  are  best 
relieved  by  hot  saline  sponge  baths,  hot  and  cold  appli- 


HYGIENE    FOR    WOMEN    IN    ADVANCED   LIFE  501 

cations  to  the  spine,  and  the  avoidance  of  all  sources  of 
physical,  mental,  or  nervous  excitement. 

5.  Most  of  the  local  symptoms  v^^hicli  give  annoy- 
ance at  this  period  may  be  relieved  by  the  hot  vaginal 
douche.  The  distressing  leucorrheal  discharge,  accom- 
panied by  violent  itching,  v^hich  often  makes  its  ap- 
pearance just  after  the  change  of  life,  may  usually  be 
relieved  by  appropriate  treatment,  though  there  is  no 
one  method  which  will  answer  for  all  cases. 

Vaginal  Douche.— This  consists  in  the  injection 
of  water  into  the  vagina  by  means  of  a  proper  instru- 
ment. The  temperature  of  the  water  should  usually 
be  from  105°  to  115°  F.  The  water  should  not  be 
injected  with  too  much  force.  On  this  account,  a  foun- 
tain or  syphon  syringe  is  best  for  the  purpose.  An 
instrument  with  all  accessory  appliances  may  be  ob 
tained  from  any  druggist.  Many  druggists  also  keep 
fountain  syringes  which  are  very  serviceable  for  this 
purpose.  The  tube  should  enter  the  parts  far  enough 
to  bring  the  water  in  contact  with  the  deeper  parts  of 
the  vaginal  mucous  membrane.  The  patient  should  be 
in  a  reclining  position  while  the  douche  is  being  taken ; 
if  taken  in  a  sitting  position,  it  is  of  very  little  use. 
In  cases  of  acute  inflammation,  the  douche  should  be 
taken  daily,  or  even  two  or  three  times  a  day,  and 
from  three  to  six  quarts  of  water  should  ordinarily 
be  employed. 


A  CHAPTER  FOR  MARRIED  PEOPLE 


IT  seems  to  be  a  generally  prevalent  opinion  that  the 
marriage  ceremony  removes  all  restraint  from  the 
exercise  of  the  sexual  functions.  Few  seem  to 
even  suspect  that  the  seventh  commandment  has  any 
bearing  upon  sexual  conduct  within  the  pale  of  matri- 
mony. Yet  if  we  may  believe  the  confessions  and 
statements  of  men  and  women,  legalized  prostitution 
is  a  more  common  crime  than  illicit  commerce  of  the 
sexes.  So  common  is  the  popular  error  upon  this  sub- 
ject, and  so  strongly  fortified  by  prejudice,  that  it  is 
absolutely  dangerous  for  a  writer  or  speaker  to  express 
the  truth,  if  he  knows  it  and  has  a  disposition  to  do  so. 
Any  attempt  to  call  attention  to  true  principles  is 
mocked,  decried,  stigmatized,  and  if  possible  extin- 
guished. The  author  is  vilified,  and  his  work  is  de- 
nounced, and  relegated  to  the  ragman.  Extremist, 
fanatic,  ascetic,  are  the  mildest  terms  employed  con- 
cerning him,  and  he  escapes  with  rare  good  fortune  if 
his  chastity  or  virility  is  not  assailed. 

We  are  not  going  to  run  any  such  risks,  and  so  shall 
not  attempt  to  enunciate  or  maintain  any  theory.  We 
shall  content  ourselves  with  plainly  stating  established 
physiological  facts  by  quotations  from  standard  med- 
ical authors,  leaving  each  reader  to  draw  conclusions 
and  construct  a  practical  formula  for  himself. 

Object  of  the  Reproductive  Functions.— Man, 
in  whatever  condition  we  find  him,  is  more  or  less 
depraved.    This  is  true  as  well  of  the  most  cultivated 

502 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  503 

and  refined  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  great  centers 
of  civilization,  as  of  the  misshapen  denizens  of  African 
jungles,  or  the  scarcely  human  natives  of  Australia 
and  Terra  del  Fuego.  His  appetites,  his  tastes,  his 
habits,  even  his  bodily  functions,  are  perverted.  Of 
course,  there  are  degrees  of  depravity  and  varieties 
of  perversion.  In  some  respects,  savages  approach 
more  nearly  to  the  natural  state  than  civilized  man, 
and  in  other  particulars,  the  latter  more  nearly  repre- 
sents man's  natural  condition;  but  in  neither  barbar- 
ism nor  civilization  do  we  find  man  in  his  primitive 
state. 

In  consequence  of  this  universal  departure  from  his 
original  normal  condition,— the  causes  of  which  we 
need  not  here  trace,  since  they  are  immaterial  in  the 
consideration  of  this  question,— when  we  wish  to  as- 
certain with  certainty  the  functions  of  particular 
organs  of  the  human  body,  we  are  obliged  to  compare 
them  with  the  corresponding  organs  of  lower  animals, 
and  study  the  functions  of  the  latter.  It  is  by  this 
method  of  investigation  that  most  of  the  important 
truths  of  physiology  have  been  developed;  and  the 
plan  is  universally  acknowledged  to  be  a  proper  and 
logical  one. 

The  Sexual  Function  in  Lower  Animals. —Then 
if  we  wish  to  ascertain,  with  certainty,  the  true  func- 
tion of  the  reproductive  organs  in  man,  we  must  pursue 
the  course  above  indicated;  in  other  words,  study  the 
function  of  reproduction  in  lower  animals.  We  say 
lower  animals,  because  man  is  really  an  animal,  a 
member  of  the  great  animal  kingdom,  though  not  a 
beast,— at  least,  he  should  not  be  a  beast,  though  some 
animals  in  human  form  approach  rery  closely  to  the 
line  that  separates  humanity  from  brutes.     We  are 

30 


504  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 


brought,  then,  for  a  solution  of  this  problem,  to  a  con- 
sideration of  the  question,  What  is  the  object  of  the 
reproductive  act  in  those  members  of  the  animal  king- 
dom just  below  man  in  the  scale  of  being?  Let  science 
tell  us;  for  zoologists  have  made  a  careful  study  of 
this  subject  for  centuries. 

We  quote  the  following  paragraphs  from  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  and  reliable  of  modern  physiolo- 
gists,* the  facts  which  he  states  being  confirmed  by  all 
other  physiologists: 

"Every  living  being  has  a  definite  term  of  life, 
through  which  it  passes  by  the  operation  of  an  invari- 
able law,  and  which,  at  some  regularly  appointed  time, 
comes  to  an  end.  .  .  .  But  while  individual  organisms 
are  thus  constantly  perishing  and  disappearing  from 
the  stage,  the  particular  kind,  or  species,  remains  in 
existence.  .  .  .  This  process,  by  which  new  organisms 
make  their  appearance  to  take  the  place  of  those  which 
are  destroyed,  is  known  as  the  process  of  reproduction, 
or  generation. 

"The  ovaries,  as  well  as  the  eggs  which  they  con- 
tain, undergo,  at  particular  seasons,  a  periodical  de- 
velopment, or  increase  in  growth.  ...  At  the  approach 
of  the  generative  season,  in  all  the  lower  animals,  a 
certain  number  of  the  eggs,  which  were  previously  in 
an  imperfect  and  inactive  condition,  begin  to  increase 
in  size,  and  become  somewhat  altered  in  structure." 

"In  most  fish  and  reptiles,  as  well  as  in  birds,  this 
regular  process  of  maturation  and  discharge  of  eggs 
takes  place  but  once  in  a  year.  In  different  species  of 
quadrupeds,  it  may  take  place  annually,  semiannually, 
bi-monthly,  or  even  monthly;  but  in  every  instance,  it 
recurs  at  regular  intervals,  and  exhibits  accordingly, 
in  a  marked  degree,  the  periodic  ':'ha.racter  which  we 

*  Dalton  I 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  505 

have  seen  to  belong  to  most  of  the  other  vital  phe- 
nomena. ' ' 

Periodical  Reproduction.— "In  most  of  the  lower 
orders  of  animals  there  is  a  periodical  development 
of  the  testicles  in  the  male,  corresponding  in  time  with 
that  of  the  ovaries  in  the  female.  As  the  ovaries  en- 
large, and  the  eggs  ripen  in  the  one  sex,  so  in  the  other 
the  testicles  increase  in  size,  as  the  season  of  reproduc- 
tion approaches,  and  become  turgid  with  spermatozoa. 
The  accessory  organs  of  generation,  at  the  same  time, 
share  the  unusual  activity  of  the  testicles,  and  become 
increased  in  vascularity,  and  ready  to  perform  their 
part  in  the  reproductive  function." 

"Each  of  the  two  sexes  is  then  at  the  same  time 
under  the  influence  of  a  corresponding  excitement.  The 
unusual  development  of  the  genital  organs  reacts  upon 
the  entire  system,  and  produces  a  state  of  peculiar 
activity  and  excitability,  known  as  the  condition  of 
'erethism.'  " 

A  Lesson  from  Instinct.— "It  is  a  remarkable 
fact,  in  this  connection,  that  the  female  of  these  animals 
will  allow  the  approaches  of  the  male  only  during  and 
immediately  after  the  cestral  period ;  that  is,  just  when 
the  egg  is  recently  discharged,  and  ready  for  impreg- 
nation. At  other  times,  when  sexual  intercourse  would 
be  necessarily  fruitless,  the  instinct  of  the  animal  leads 
her  to  avoid  it;  and  the  concourse  of  the  sexes  is  ac- 
cordingly made  to  correspond  in  time  with  the  maturity 
of  the  egg  and  its  aptitude  for  fecundation." 

"The  egg,  immediately  upon  its  discharge  from  the 
ovary,  is  ready  for  impregnation.  If  sexual  inter- 
course happens  to  take  place  about  that  time,  the  egg 
and  the  spermatic  fluid  meet  in  some  part  of  the  female 
generative  passages,  and  fecundation  is  accomplished. 


506  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

...  If,  on  the  other  hand,  coitus  does  not  take  place, 
the  egg  passes  down  into  the  uterus  unimpregnated, 
loses  its  vitality  after  a  short  time,  and  is  finally  car- 
ried away  with  the  uterine  secretions." 

''It  is  easily  understood,  therefore,  why  sexual  in- 
tercourse should  be  more  liable  to  be  followed  by  preg- 
nancy when  it  occurs  about  the  menstrual  epoch  than 
at  other  times.  .  ,  .  Before  its  discharge,  the  egg  is 
immature,  and  unprepared  for  impregnation ;  and  after 
the  menstrual  period  has  passed,  it  gradually  loses  its 
freshness  and  vitality." 

The  law  of  periodicity,  as  it  affects  the  sexual  ac- 
tivity of  males  of  the  human  species,  is  indicated  in 
the  following  remarks  by  the  same  author: 

''The  same  correspondence  between  the  periods  of 
sexual  excitement  in  the  male  and  female,  is  visible  in 
many  of  the  animals  [higher  mammals],  as  well  as  in 
fish  and  reptiles.  This  is  the  case  in  most  species  which 
produce  young  but  once  a  year,  and  at  a  fixed  period, 
as  the  deer  and  the  wild  hog.  In  other  species,  on  the 
contrary,  such  as  the  dog,  the  rabbit,  the  guinea-pig, 
etc.,  where  several  broods  of  young  are  produced  dur- 
ing the  year,  or  where,  as  in  the  human  subject,  the 
generative  epochs  of  the  female  recur  at  short  inter- 
vals, so  that  the  particular  period  of  impregnation  is 
comparatively  indefinite,  the  generative  apparatus  of 
the  male  is  almost  always  in  a  state  of  full  develop- 
ment, and  is  excited  to  action  at  particular  periods, 
apparently  by  some  influence  derived  from  the  condi- 
tion of  the  female." 

Summary  of  Important  Facts. —The  facts  pre- 
sented in  the  foregoing  quotations  from  Dr.  Dalton 
may  be  summarized  as  follows : 

1.  The  sexual  function  is  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 


A   CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  509 

ducing  new  individuals  to  take  the  place  of  those  who 
die,  and  thus  preserve  the  species  from  becoming  ex- 
tinct. 

2.  In  the  animal  kingdom  generally,  the  reproduc- 
tive function  is  necessarily  a  periodical  act,  dependent 
upon  the  development  of  the  reproductive  organs  of 
both  the  male  and  the  female  at  stated  periods. 

3.  In  those  exceptional  cases  in  which  the  organs  of 
the  male  are  in  a  state  of  constant  development,  sexual 
congress  occurs,  in  lower  animals,  only  at  those  times 
when  the  periodical  development  occurs  in  the  female. 

4.  Fecundation  of  the  female  element  can  only  take 
place  about  the  time  of  periodical  development  in  the 
female. 

5.  The  desire  for  sexual  congress  naturally  exists 
in  the  female  only  at  or  immediately  after  the  time  of 
periodical  development. 

6.  The  constant  development  of  the  sexual  organs 
in  human  males  is  a  condition  common  to  all  animals 
in  which  development  occurs  in  the  female  at  short 
intervals,  and  is  a  provision  of  nature  to  secure  a  fruit- 
ful union  when  the  female  is  in  readiness,  but  not  an 
indication  for  constant  or  frequent  use. 

7.  The  time  of  sexual  congress  is  always  determined 
by  the  condition  and  desires  of  the  female. 

A  Hint  from  Nature.—  An  additional  fact,  as 
stated  by  physiologists,  is  that,  under  normal  condi- 
tions, the  human  female  experiences  sexual  desire  im- 
mediately after  menstruation  more  than  at  any  other 
time.  It  has,  indeed,  been  claimed  that  at  this  period 
only  does  she  experience  the  true  sexual  instinct,  un- 
less it  is  abnormally  excited  by  disease  or  otherwise. 

From  these  facts  the  following  conclusions  must 
<3vidently  be  drawn: 


510  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

1.  The  fact  that  in  all  annuals  but  the  human  species 
the  act  can  be  performed  only  when  reproduction  is 
possible,  proves  that  in  the  animal  kingdom  in  general 
the  sole  object  of  the  function  is  reproduction. 
Wliether  man  is  an  exception,  must  be  determined  from 
other  considerations. 

2.  The  fact  that  the  males  of  other  animals  besides 
man,  in  which  the  sexual  organs  are  in  a  state  of  con- 
stant development,  do  not  exercise  those  organs  except 
for  the  purpose  of  reproduction,  is  proof  of  the  posi 
tion  that  the  constant  development  in  man  is  not  a  war- 
rant for  their  constant  use. 

3.  The  general  law  that  the  reproductive  act  is 
performed  only  when  desired  by  the  female,  is  sufficient 
ground  for  supposing  that  such  should  be  the  case  with 
the  human  species  also. 

Some  Valuable  Opinions,  — The  opinions  of  sev- 
eral writers  of  note  are  given  in  the  following  quota- 
tions : 

"The  approach  of  the  sexes  is,  in  its  purest  con- 
dition, the  result  of  a  natural  instinct,  the  end  of  which 
is  the  reproduction  of  the  species.  Still,  however,  we 
are  far  from  saying  that  this  ultimate  result  is,  in  any 
proportion  of  cases,  the  actual  thought  in  the  minds 
of  the  parties  engaged." 

''The  very  lively  solicitations  which  spring  from 
the  genital  sense,  have  no  other  end  than  to  insure  the 
perpetuity  of  the  race. ' '  * 

''Observation  fully  confirms  the  views  of  inductive 
philosophy;  for  it  proves  to  us  that  coitus,  exercised 
otherwise  than  under  the  inspirations  of  honest  instinct, 
is  a  cause  of  disease  in  both  sexes,  and  of  danger  to  the 
social  order. ' '  t 

"It  is  incredible  that  the  act  of  bringing  men  into 

*  Dr.  Gardner.  t  Mayer. 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  511 

life,  that  act  of  Immanity,  without  contradiction  the 
most  important,  should  be  the  one  of  which  there  should 
have  been  the  least  supposed  necessity  for  regulation. 
or  which  has  been  regulated  the  least  beneficially. ' '  * 

''But  it  may  be  said  that  the  demands  of  nature 
are,  in  the  married  state,  not  only  legal,  but  should  be 
physically  right.  So  they  are,  when  our  physical  life 
is  right;  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  few  live  in 
a  truly  physical  rectitude."  t 

"Among  cattle,  the  sexes  meet  by  common  instinct 
and  common  will ;  it  is  reserved  for  the  human  animal 
to  treat  the  female  as  a  mere  victim  to  his  lust. ' '  $ 

"He  is  an  ill  husband  that  uses  his  ivife  as  a  man 
treats  a  harlot,  having  no  other  end  but  pleasure:  con- 
cerning which  our  best  rule  is,  that  although  in  this, 
as  in  eating  and  drinking,  there  is  an  appetite  to  be 
satisfied,  which  cannot  be  done  without  pleasing  that 
desire;  yet,  since  that  desire  and  satisfaction  were  in- 
tended by  nature  for  other  ends,  they  should  never  be 
separated  from  those  ends," 

"It  is  a  sad  truth  that  many  married  persons,  think- 
ing that  the  flood-gates  of  liberty  are  set  wide  open, 
without  measures  or  restraints  (so  they  sail  in  the 
channel),  have  felt  the  final  rewards  of  intemperance 
and  lust  by  their  unlawful  using  of  lawful  permis- 
sions. Only  let  each  of  them  be  temperate,  and  both 
of  them  modest. ' '  § 

Says  another  writer  very  emphatically,  "  It  is  a  com- 
mon belief  that  a  man  and  woman,  because  they  are 
legally  united  in  marriage,  are  privileged  to  the  un- 
bridled exercise  of  amativeness.  This  is  wrong.  Na- 
ture, in  the  exercise  of  her  laws,  recognizes  no  human 
enactments,  and  is  as  prompt  to  punish  any  infringe- 
ment of  her  laws  in  those  who  are  legally  married,  as 

*  Dunoyer.      t  Gardner.      X  Quarterly  Tievieiv.      |  Jeremy  Taylor. 


512  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 


in  those  out  of  the  bonds.  Excessive  indulgence  be- 
tween the  married  produces  as  great  and  lasting  evil 
effects  as  in  the  single  man  or  woman,  and  is  nothing 
more  nor  less  than  legalized  prostitution." 

Results  of  Excesses.— The  sad  results  of  excess- 
ive indulgences  are  seen  on  every  hand.  Numerous 
aihnents  attributed  to  overwork,  constitutional  disease, 
or  hereditary  predisposition,  know  no  other  cause  and 
need  no  other  explanation. 

Effects  upon  Husbands.— No  doubt  the  principal 
blame  in  this  matter  properly  falls  upon  the  husband; 
but  it  cannot  be  said  that  he  is  the  greatest  sufferer; 
however,  his  punishment  is  severe  enough  to  clearly 
indicate  the  enormity  of  the  transgression,  and  to  warn 
him  to  a  reformation  of  his  habits.  The  following  is 
a  quotation  from  an  eminent  medical  authority: 

^ '  But  any  warning  against  sexual  dangers  would  be 
very  incomplete  if  it  did  not  extend  to  the  excesses  so 
often  committed  by  married  persons  in  ignorance  of 
their  ill  effects.  Too  frequent  emissions  of  the  life- 
giving  fluid,  and  too  frequent  excitement  of  the  nerv- 
ous system,  are  in  themselves  most  destructive.  The 
result  is  the  same  within  the  marriage  bond  as  without 
it.  The  married  man  who  thinks  that  because  he  is  a 
married  man  he  can  commit  no  excess,  however  often 
the  act  of  sexual  congress  is  repeated,  will  suffer  as 
certainly  and  as  seriously  as  the  unmarried  debauchee 
who  acts  on  the  same  principle  in  his  indulgences,— 
perhaps  more  certainly,  from  his  very  ignorance,  and 
from  his  not  taking  those  precautions  and  following 
those  rules  which  a  career  of  vice  is  apt  to  teach  the 
sensualist. 

"Many  a  man  has,  until  his  marriage,  lived  a  most 
continent  life:  so  has  his  wife.     As  soon  as  thev  are 


A   CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  513 

wedded,  intercourse  is  indulged  in  niglit  after  niglit, 
neither  party  having  any  idea  that  these  repeated  sex- 
ual acts  are  excesses  which  the  system  of  neither  can 
bear,  and  which,  to  the  man  at  least,  are  absolute  ruin. 
The  practice  is  continued  till  health  is  impaired,  some- 
times permanently;  and  when  a  patient  is  at  last  ob- 
liged to  seek  medical  advice,  he  is  thunderstruck  at 
learning  that  his  sufferings  arise  from  excesses  un- 
wittingly committed.  Married  people  often  appear  to 
think  that  connection  may  be  repeated  as  regularly  and 
almost  as  often  as  their  meals.  Till  they  are  told  of 
the  danger,  the  idea  never  enters  their  heads  that  they 
are  guilty  of  great  and  almost  criminal  excess;  nor  is 
this  to  be  wondered  at,  since  the  possibility  of  such  a 
cause  of  disease  is  seldom  hinted  at  by  the  medical  man 
they  consult." 

^'Some  go  so  far  as  to  believe  that  indulgence  may 
increase  these  powers,  just  as  gymnastic  exercises  aug- 
ment the  force  of  the  muscles.  This  is  a  popular  error, 
and  requires  correction.  Such  persons  should  be  told 
that  the  shock  on  the  system  each  time  connection  is 
indulged  in  is  very  powerful,  and  that  the  expenditure 
of  seminal  fluid  must  be  particularly  injurious  to  or- 
gans previously  debilitated.  It  is  by  this  and  similar 
excesses  that  premature  old  age  and  complaints  of 
the  generative  organs  are  brought  on." 

' '  The  length  to  which  married  people  carry  excesses 
is  perfectly  astonishing." 

Consequences  of  Excess.— "Since  my  attention 
has  been  particularly  called  to  this  class  of  ail- 
ments, I  feel  confident  that  many  of  the  forms  of  in- 
digestion, general  ill  health,  hypochondriasis,  etc.,  so 
often  met  with  in  adults,  depend  upon  sexual  excesses. 
.   .    .  That  this  cause  of  illness  is  not  more  generally 


514  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

acknowledged  and  acted  on,  arises  from  the  natural 
delicacy  which  medical  men  must  feel  in  putting  such 
questions  to  their  patients  as  are  necessary  to  elicit  the 
facts." 

''It  is  not  the  body  alone  which  suifers  from  ex- 
cesses committed  in  married  life.  Experience  every 
day  convinces  me  that  much  of  the  languor  of  mind, 
confusion  of  ideas,  and  inability  to  control  the  thoughts, 
of  which  some  married  men  complain,  arise  from  this 
cause. ' '  * 

The  debilitating  etfects  of  excessive  sexual  indul- 
gence arise  from  two  causes ;  viz.,  the  loss  of  the  semi- 
nal fluid,  and  the  nervous  excitement.  With  reference 
to  the  value  of  the  spermatic  fluid.  Dr.  Gardner  re- 
marks : 

' '  The  sperm  is  the  purest  extract  of  the  blood.  .  .  . 
Nature,  in  creating  it,  has  intended  it  not  only  to  com- 
municate life,  but  also  to  nourish  the  individual  life. 
In  fact,  the  reabsorption  of  the  fecundating  liquid 
impresses  upon  the  entire  economy  new  energy, 
and  a  virility  which  contributes  to  the  prolongation 
of  life." 

Another  case  came  under  our  observation  in  which 
the  patient,  a  man,  confessed  to  having  indulged  every 
night  for  twenty  years.  We  did  not  wonder  that  at 
forty  he  was  a  complete  physical  wreck. 

Continence  of  Athletes.  —  "The  moderns  who 
are  training  are  well  aware  that  sexual  indulgence 
wholly  unfits  them  for  great  feats  of  strength,  and  the 
captain  of  a  boat  strictly  forbids  his  crew  anything  of 
the  sort  just  previous  to  a  match.  Some  trainers  have 
gone  so  far  as  to  assure  me  that  they  can  discover  by 
a  man's  style  of  pulling  whether  he  has  committed 
such   a  breach  of  discipline  overnight,  and  have  not 

*  Acton. 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  515 

scrupled  to  attribute  the  occasional  loss  of  matches  to 
this  cause. ' '  * 

A  Cause  of  Throat  Disease.— The  disease  known 
as  clergyman's  sore  throat  is  believed  by  many  eminent 
physicians  to  have  its  chief  origin  in  excessive  venery. 
It  is  well  known  that  sexual  abuse  is  a  very  potent 
cause  of  throat  diseases.  This  view  is  supported  by 
the  following  from  the  pen  of  the  learned  Dr.  X.  Bour- 
geois : 

'  *  We  ought  not,  then,  to  be  surprised  that  the  phys- 
iological act,  requiring  so  great  an  expenditure  of 
vitality,  must  be  injurious  in  the  highest  degree,  when 
it  is  reiterated  abusively.  To  engender  is  to  give  a 
portion  of  one's  life.  Does  not  he  who  is  prodigal  of 
himself,  precipitate  his  own  ruin?  A  peculiar  char- 
acter of  the  diseases  which  have  their  origin  in  venereal 
excesses  and  masturbation  is  chronicity. " 

' '  Individual  predispositions,  acquired  or  hereditary, 
engender  for  each  a  series  of  peculiar  ills.  In  some, 
the  debility  bears  upon  the  pulmonary  organs.  Hence 
result  the  dry  cough,  prolonged  hoarseness,  stitch  in 
the  side,  spitting  of  blood,  and  finally  phthisis.  How 
many  examples  are  there  of  young  debauchees  who 
have  been  devoured  by  this  cruel  disease!  ...  It  is, 
of  all  the  grave  maladies,  the  one  which  venereal  abuses 
provoke  the  most  frequently.  Portal,  Bayle,  Louis,  say 
this  distinctly." 

The  author  has  met  a  large  number  of  cases  which 
fully  verified  the  above  statements.  In  fact,  in  quite  a 
large  proportion  of  cases  suffering  from  sexual  ex- 
cesses which  have  come  under  his  care,  some  form  of 
throat  ailment  has  been  present. 

A  Cause  of  Consumption.— This  fatal  disease  finds 

a  large  share  of  its  victims  among  those  addicted  to 

— . . .  ■    \ 

*  Acton. 


516  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

sexual  excesses,  either  of  an  illicit  nature  or  witliin 
the  marriage  pale;  for  the  physical  effects  are  essen- 
tially identical.  This  iause  is  especially  active  and 
fatal  with  sedentary  persons,  but  is  sufficiently  power- 
ful to  undermine  the  constitution  under  the  most  favor- 
able circumstances,  as  the  following  case  illustrates : 

The  patient  was  a  young  man  of  twenty-two,  large, 
muscular,  and  well  developed,  having  uncommonly 
broad  shoulders  and  a  full  chest.  His  occupation  had 
been  healthful,  that  of  a  laborer.  He  had  coughed  for 
several  months,  and  was  spitting  blood.  Examination 
of  the  lungs  showed  that  they  were  hopelessly  diseased. 
There  was  no  trace  of  consumption  in  the  family,  and 
the  only  cause  to  which  the  disease  could  be  attributed 
was  excessive  sexual  indulgence,  which  he  confessed  to 
having  practiced  for  several  years. 

Prostatic  Troubles.—  One  of  the  most  distressing 
symptoms  of  advanced  age  is  enlargement  of  the  pros- 
tate. Men  who  give  themselves  up  to  sexual  excesses 
find  themselves  at  middle  age  or  even  sooner,  suffer- 
ing with  these  disorders,  even  in  a  very  grave  form.  We 
have  met  a  number  of  instances  in  which  a  difficulty  of 
this  kind  existed,  but  disappeared  very  readily  when  the 
patient  corrected  his  habits  by  adopting  a  continent  life. 

Effect  on  Wives.— If  husbands  are  great  suffer- 
ers, as  we  have  seen,  wives  suffer  still  more  terribly, 
being  of  feebler  constitution,  and  hence  less  able  to 
bear  the  frequent  shock  which  is  suffered  by  the  nerv- 
ous system.  Dr.  Gardner  places  this  evil  prominent 
among  the  causes  * '  the  result  of  which  we  see  deplored 
in  the  public  press  of  the  day,  which  warns  us  that  the 
American  race  is  fast  dying  out,  and  that  its  place  is 
being  filled  by  emigrants  of  dift'erent  lineage,  religion, 
political   ideas,   and  education." 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  517 

The  same  author  remarks  further  on  the  results  of 
this  with  other  causes  which  hirgely  grow  out  of  it: 

''It  has  been  a  matter  of  common  observation  that 
the  physical  status  of  the  women  of  Christendom  has 
been  gradually  deteriorating^  that  their  mental  ener- 
gies were  uncertain  and  spasmodic;  that  they  were 
prematurely  care-worn,  wrinkled,  and  enervated;  that 
they  became  subject  to  a  host  of  diseases  scarcely  ever 
known  to  the  professional  men  of  past  times,  but  now 
familiar  to,  and  the  common  talk  of,  the  matrons,  and 
often,  indeed,  of  the  youngest  females  in  the  com- 
munity. ' ' 

So  prevalent  are  these  maladies,  that  Michelet  says 
with  truth  that  the  present  is  the  "age  of  womb  dis- 
eases.-' ' 

An  Illustrative  Case. —Every  physician  of  ob- 
servation and  experience  has  met  many  cases  illustra- 
tive of  the  serious  effects  of  the  evil  named.  Many 
years  ago,  when  the  author  was  acting  as  assistant  in 
a  large  dispensary  in  an  Eastern  city,  a  young  woman 
applied  for  examination  and  treatment.  She  presented 
a  great  variety  of  nervous  symptoms,  prominent  among 
which  were  those  of  mild  hysteria  and  nervous  exhaus- 
tion, together  with  impaired  digestion  and  violent  pal- 
pitation of  the  heart.  In  our  inquiries  respecting  the 
cause  of  these  difficulties,  we  learned  that  she  had  been 
married  about  six  months.  A  little  careful  questioning 
elicited  the  fact  that  sexual  indulgence  was  invariably 
practiced  every  night,  and  often  two  or  three  times, 
occasionally  as  many  as  four  times  a  night. 

We  had  the  key  to  her  troubles  at  once,  and  ordered 
entire  continence  for  a  month.  From  her  subsequent 
reports  we  learned  that  her  husband  would  not  allow 
her  to  comply  with  the  request,  but  that  indulgence  was 


518  PLAIN    FACTS    FOK    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

much  less  frequent  tlian  before.  The  result  was  not 
all  that  could  be  desired,  but  there  was  marked  im- 
provement. If  the  husband  had  been  willing  to  ''do 
right,"  entire  recovery  would  have  taken  place  with 
rapidity. 

Thousands  of  unfortunate  wives  are  constantly 
under  the  doctor's  care  for  the  treatment  of  local  ail- 
ments which  have  their  sole  origin  in  sexual  excesses 
for  which  their  husbands  are  responsible.  It  is  not 
overstating  the  matter  when  we  say  that  we  have  met 
hundreds  of  cases  of  this  sort,  and  scores  of  times  have 
we  been  requested  by  suffering  wives  to  appeal  to  their 
husbands  in  their  behalf. 

Something  for  Husbands  to  Consider.— We  take 
pleasure  in  quoting  the  following  remarks  from  an 
address  of  the  eminent  Prof.  T.  Parvin,  M.  D.,  of  Jef- 
ferson Medical  College,  Philadelphia: 

''In  woman,  love  throbs  in  every  pulse,  thrills  in 
every  nerve  and  fiber  of  her  being ;  her  life  is  love.  She 
gives  herself  to  the  one  she  truly  loves.  If  you  find 
out  the  history  of  poor  seduced  girls,  those  who,  as  is 
so  commonly  said,  loved  not  wisely  but  too  well,  you 
will  find  that  in  almost  all  cases  they  yielded  to  the 
seducer  in  no  paroxysm  of  sensual  passion,  but  because 
they  loved  and  trusted  with  their  whole  heart ;  they  fell 
because  they  sought  not  their  own,  but  the  gratification 
of  another.  I  do  not  believe  one  bride  in  a  hundred, 
of  delicate,  educated,  sensitive  women,  accepts  matri- 
mony from  any  desire  of  sexual  gratification ;  when  she 
thinks  of  this  at  all,  it  is  with  shrinking,  rather  than 
with  desire.  Happy  that  union  in  which  the  husband 
understands  the  womanly  nature. 

"On  the  other  hand,  how  many  women  are  made 
wretched  by  the  husband  who  thinks  the  highest  end  of 


A    CHAPTER    FOE    MARRIED    PEOPLE  519 

marriage  is  copulation,  and  that  his  wife  ought  to  be 
equally  amorous  with  himself. 

''It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  the  kindness,  the 
kiss,  and  the  loving  embrace  of  the  wife  are,  in  general, 
the  expression  of  sexual  desire.  The  following  was 
the  exclamation,  to  me,  of  a  most  refined  and  cultivated 
lady,  the  mother  of  five  children,  and  who  dearly  loved 
her  husband:  'How  often  we  wives  would  caress  our 
husbands  if  we  did  not  know  the  inevitable  conse- 
quences!' I  know  that  I  am  right  as  to  the  womanly 
nature,  and  I  know  that  if  men  generally  thus  believed, 
there  would  be  less  licentiousness,  i^urer  and  happier 
wedded  life,  and  healthier  women ;  for  how  many  women 
are  rendered  miserable,  both  morally  and  physically, 
by  the  sexual  excesses  and  brutalities  of  husbands!" 

In  confirmation  of  these  statements  we  quote  the 
following  from  an  author  whose  name  frequently  ap- 
pears in  this  work,  the  eminent  Dr.  Acton : 

"I  have  taken  pains  to  obtain  and  compare  abun- 
dant evidence  on  this  subject,  and  the  result  of  my 
inquiries  I  may  briefly  epitomize  as  follows :  I  should 
say  that  the  majority  of  women,  happily  for  them,  are 
not  very  much  troubled  with  sexual  feeling  of  any  kind. 
A¥liat  men  are  habitually,  women  are  only  exception- 
ally. I  admit,  of  course,  the  existence  of  sexual  excite- 
ment, terminating  even  in  nymphomania,  a  form  of 
insanity  that  those  accustomed  to  visit  lunatic  asylums 
must  be  fully  conversant  with;  but,  with  these  sad  ex- 
ceptions, there  can  be  no  doubt  that  sexual  feeling  in 
the  female  is,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  in  abeyance, 
and  that  it  requires  positive  and  considerable  excite- 
ment to  be  roused  at  all;  and  even  if  roused,  which  in 
many  instances  it  never  can  be,  is  very  moderate  com- 
pared with  that  of  the  male. 


520  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

"Many  men,  and  particularly  young  men,  form 
tlieir  ideas  of  women's  feelings  from  what  they  notice 
early  in  life  among  loose,  or  at  least  low  and  vulgar 
women.  There  is  always  a  certain  number  of  females 
who,  though  not  ostensibly  prostitutes,  make  a  kind  of 
trade  of  a  pretty  face.  They  are  fond  of  admiration; 
they  like  to  attract  the  attention  of  those  immediately 
around  them.  Any  susce]3tible  boy  is  easily  led  to 
believe,  whether  he  is  not  altogether  overcome  by  the 
siren  or  not,  that  she,  and  hence  all  women,  must  have 
at  least  as  strong  passions  as  himself.  Such  women, 
however,  give  a  very  false  idea  of  the  condition  of 
sexual  feeling  in  general.  Association  with  the  loose 
women  of  London  streets,  in  casinos  and  other  immoral 
haunts,  who,  if  they  have  not  sexual  feeling,  counter- 
feit it  so  well  that  the  novice  does  not  suspect  but  that 
it  is  genuine,  all  seem  to  corroborate  such  an  impres- 
sion. 

"Married  men,  medical  men,  or  married  women 
themselves,  would,  if  appealed  to,  tell  a  ditferent  tale, 
and  vindicate  female  nature  from  the  vile  aspersions 
cast  on  it  by  the  abandoned  conduct  and  ungoverned 
lust  of  a  few  of  its  worst  examples.  There  are  many 
females  who  never  feel  any  excitement  whatever. 
Others,  again,  immediately  after  each  period,  do  be- 
come, to  a  limited  degree,  capable  of  experiencing  it; 
but  this  capacity  is  only  temporary,  and  will  cease 
entirely  until  the  next  menstrual  period.  The  best 
mothers,  wives,  and  managers  of  households  know  little 
or  nothing  of  sexual  indulgences.  Love  of  home,  of 
children,  of  domestic  duties,  are  the  only  passions  they 
feel.  As  a  general  rule,  a  modest  woman  seldom  de- 
sires any  sexual  gratification  for  herself.  She  submits 
to  her  husband,  but  only  to  please  him;  and  but  for 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  521 

the  desire  of  maternity,  would  far  rather  be  relieved 
from  his  attention." 

The  Greatest  Cause   of   Uterine  Disease.  —Dr. 

J.  R.  Black  remarks  as  follows  on  this  subject: 

''Medical  writers  agree  that  one  of  the  most  com- 
mon causes  of  the  many  forms  of  derangement  to  which 
woman  is  subject  consists  in  excessive  cohabitation. 
The  diseases  known  as  menorrhagia,  dysmenorrhea, 
leucorrhea,  amenorrhea,  abortions,  prolapsus,  chronic 
inflammations  and  ulcerations  of  the  womb,  with  a  yet 
greater  variety  of  sympathetic  nervous  disorders,  are 
some  of  the  distressing  forms  of  these  derangements. 
The  popular  way  of  accounting  for  many  of  these  ills 
is  that  they  come  from  colds  or  from  straining  lifts. 
But  if  colds  and  great  strain  upon  the  parts  in  ques- 
tion develop  such  diseases,  why  are  they  not  seen  among 
the  inferior  animals?  The  climatic  alternations  they 
endure,  the  severe  labor  some  of  them  are  obliged  to 
perform,  ought  to  cause  their  ruin ;  or  else,  in  popular 
phrase,  'make  them  catch  their  death  o'  cold.'  " 

Legalized  Murder.— A  medical  writer  of  consider- 
able ability  presents  the  following  picture,  the  coun- 
terpart of  which  almost  any  one  can  recall  as  having 
occurred  within  the  circle  of  his  acquaintance ;  perhaps 
numerous  cases  will  be  recalled  by  one  who  has  been 
especially  observing : 

"A  man  of  great  vital  force  is  united  to  a  woman 
of  evenly  balanced  organization.  The  husband,  in  the 
exercise  of  what  he  is  pleased  to  term  his  'marital 
rights,'  places  his  wife,  in  a  short  time,  on  the  nervous, 
delicate,  sickly  list.  In  the  blindness  and  ignorance  of 
his  animal  nature,  he  requires  prompt  obedience  to  his 
desires ;  and,  ignorant  of  the  law  of  right  in  this  direc- 
tion, thinking  that  it  is  her  duty  to  accede  to  his  wishes, 

31 


522  PLAIN    FACTS   FOK   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

though  fulfilling  them  with  a  sore  and  troubled  heart, 
she  allows  him  passively,  never  lovingly,  to  exercise 
daily  and  weekly,  month  in  and  month  out,  the  low 
and  beastly  of  his  nature,  and  eventually,  slowly  but 
surely,  to  kill  her.  And  this  man,  who  has  as  surely 
committed  murder  as  has  the  convicted  assassin,  lures 
to  his  net  and  takes  unto  himself  another  wife,  to 
repeat  the  same  program  of  legalized  prostitution 
on  his  part,  and  sickness  and  premature  death  on  her 
part." 

Professor  Gerrish,  in  a  little  work  from  which  we 
take  the  liberty  to  quote,  speaks  as  follows  on  this 
subject : 

^'One  man,  reckless  of  his  duty  to  the  community, 
marries  young,  with  means  and  prospects  inadequate 
to  supi^ort  the  family  which  is  so  sure  to  come  ere  long. 
His  ostensible  excuse  is  love ;  his  real  reason,  the  grati- 
fication of  his  carnal  instincts.  Another  man,  in  ex- 
actly similar  circumstances,  but  too  conscientious  to 
assume  responsibilities  which  he  cannot  carry,  and  in 
which  failure  must  compromise  the  comfort  and  tax 
the  purses  of  people  from  whom  he  has  no  right  to 
extort  luxuries,  forbears  to  marry ;  but,  feeling  the  pas- 
sions of  his  sex,  and  being  imbued  with  the  prevalent 
errors  on  such  matters,  resorts  for  relief  to  unlawful 
coition.  At  the  wedding  of  the  former,  pious  friends 
assemble  with  their  presents  and  congratulations,  and 
bid  the  legalized  prostitution  Godspeed.  Love  shields 
the  crime,  all  the  more  easily  because  so  many  of  the 
rejoicing  guests  have  sinned  in  precisely  the  same  way. 
The  other  man  has  no  festival  gathering.  .  .  .  Society 
applauds  the  first  and  frowns  on  the  second;  but,  to 
my  mind,  the  difference  between  them  is  not  markedly 
in  favor  of  the  former. ' ' 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  523 

''We  hear  a  good  deal  said  about  certain  crimes 
against  nature,  such  as  pederasty  and  sodomy,  and  they 
meet  with  the  indignant  condemnation  of  all  right- 
minded  persons.  The  statutes  are  especially  severe  on 
offenders  of  this  class,  the  penalty  being  imprisonment, 
between  one  and  ten  years,  whereas  fornication  is  pun- 
ished by  imprisonment  for  not  more  than  sixty  days 
and  a  fine  of  less  than  one  hundred  dollars.  But  the 
query  very  pertinently  arises  just  here  as  to  whether 
the  use  of  the  condom  and  def  ertilizing  injections  is  not 
equally  a  crime  against  nature,  and  quite  as  worthy  of 
our  detestation  and  contempt.  And,  further,  when  we 
consider  the  brute  creation,  and  see  that  they,  guided 
by  instinct,  copulate  only  when  the  female  is  in  proper 
physiological  condition  and  yields  a  willing  consent, 
it  may  be  suggested  that  congress  between  men  and 
women  may,  in  certain  circumstances,  be  a  crime 
against  nature,  and  one  far  worse  in  its  results  than 
any  other.  Is  it  probable  that  a  child  born  of  a  con- 
nection to  which  the  woman  objects,  will  possess  that 
felicitous  organization  which  every  parent  should  ear- 
nestly desire  and  endeavor  to  bestow  on  his  offspring? 
Can  the  unwelcome  fruit  of  a  rape  be  considered,  what 
every  child  has  a  right  to  be,  a  pledge  of  affection? 
Poor  little  Pip,  in  'Great  Expectations,'  spoke  as  the 
representative  of  a  numerous  class  when  he  said,  'I 
was  always  treated  as  if  I  had  insisted  on  being  born, 
in  opposition  to  the  dictates  of  reason,  religion,  and 
morality,  and  against  the  dissuading  arguments  of  my 
best  friends.'  We  enjoin  the  young  to  honor  father 
and  mother,  never  thinking  how  undeserving  of  re- 
spect are  those  whose  children  suffer  from  inherited 
ills,  the  result  of  the  selfishness  and  carelessness  of 
their  parents  in  begetting  them. 


524  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

Accidental  Pregnancies.—  "  These  accidental 
pregnancies  are  the  great  immediate  cause  of  the  enor- 
mously common  crime  of  abortion,  concerning  which 
the  morals  of  the  people  are  amazingly  blunted.  The 
extent  of  the  practice  may  be  roughly  estimated  by  the 
number  of  standing  advertisements  in  the  family  news- 
papers, in  which  feticide  is  warranted  safe  and  secret. 
It  is  not  the  poor  only  who  take  advantage  of  such 
nefarious  opportunities;  but  the  rich  shamelessly  pat- 
ronize these  professional  and  cowardly  murderers  of 
defenseless  infancy.  Madame  Restell,  who  died  by  her 
own  hand  in  New  York,  left  a  fortune  of  a  million 
dollars,  which  she  had  accumulated  by  producing 
abortions." 

A  husband  who  has  not  sunk  in  his  carnality  too 
far  below  the  brute  creation,  will  certainly  pause  a 
moment,  in  the  face  of  such  terrible  facts,  before  he 
continues  his  sensual,  selfish,  murderous  course. 

The  following  remarks  which  our  own  professional 
experience  has  several  times  confirmed,  reveal  a  still 
more  heinous  violation  of  nature 's  laws : 

''To  many  it  may  seem  that  it  is  unnecessary  to 
caution  against  contracting  relationships  at  the  period 
of  the  monthly  flow,  thinking  that  the  instinctive  laws 
of  cleanliness  and  delicacy  were  sufficient  to  refrain 
the  indulgence  of  the  appetites ;  but  they  are  little  cog- 
nizant of  the  true  condition  of  things  in  this  world. 
Often  have  I  had  husbands  inform  me  that  they  had 
not  missed  having  sexual  relations  with  their  wives 
once  or  more  times  a  day  for  several  years ;  and  scores 
of  women  with  delicate  frames  and  broken-down  health 
have  revealed  to  me  similar  facts,  and  T  have  been 
compelled  to  make  personal  appeals  to  the  husbands. ' '  * 

It  seems  scarcely  possible  that  such  enormity  could 

*  Gardner. 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  525 

be  committed  by  any  human  being,  at  least  by  civilized 
men,  and  in  the  face  of  the  injunctions  of  Moses  to  the 
Jews,  to  say  nothing  of  the  evident  indecency  of  the 
act.  The  Jews  still  maintain  their  integrity  to  the 
observance  of  the  command  of  their  ancient  lawgiver. 

Indulgence  during  menstruation  is  liable  to  produce 
violent  hemorrhage,  internal  congestion,  and  even  in- 
flammation in  the  woman,  and  in  the  man  an  inflamma- 
tion of  the  urethra,  similar  to  gonorrhea.  One  of  the 
most  inveterate  cases  of  catarrhal  inflammation  of  the 
urethra  which  we  have  ever  met  in  the  treatment  of  a 
large  number  of  cases  of  this  sort,  was  occasioned  in 
this  way. 

Effects  upon  Offspring.— That  those  guilty  of 
transgression  should  suffer,  seems  only  just;  but  that 
an  innocent  being  who  had  no  part  in  the  sin,  no  voice 
in  the  time  or  manner  of  its  advent  into  the  world, — 
that  such  a  one  should  suffer  equally,  if  not  more  bit- 
terly, with  the  transgressors  themselves,  seems  any- 
thing but  just.  But  such  is  nature's  inexorable  law, 
that  the  iniquities  of  the  parents  shall  be  visited  upon 
the  children;  and  this  fact  should  be  a  most  powerful 
influence  to  prevent  parental  transgression,  especially 
in  this  direction,  in  which  the  dire  consequences  fall 
so  heavily  and  so  immediately  upon  an  innocent  being. 

Says  Acton,  ' '  The  ill  effects  of  marital  excesses  are 
not  confined  to  offending  parties.  No  doubt  can  exist 
that  many  of  the  obscure  cases  of  sickly  children,  born 
of  apparently  healthy  parents,  arise  from  this  cause; 
and  this  is  borne  out  by  investigations  among  animals. ' ' 

Breeders  of  stock  who  wish  to  seaure  sound  prog- 
eny will  not  allow  the  most  robust  stallion  to  associate 
with  mares  as  many  times  during  the  whole  season  as 
some  of  these  salacious  human  males  perform  a  simi- 


526  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

lar  act  within  a  month.  One  reason  why  the  offspring 
suffer  is  that  the  seminal  fluid  deteriorates  very  rap- 
idly by  repeated  indulgence.  The  spermatozoa  do  not 
have  time  to  become  mature,  and  progeny  resulting 
from  such  immature  elements  will  possess  the  same 
deficiency;  hence  the  hosts  of  deformed,  scrofulous, 
weazen,  and  idiotic  children  which  curse  the  race,  and 
testify  to  the  sensuality  of  their  progenitors.  Another 
reason  is  the  physical  and  nervous  exhaustion  which 
the  parents  bring  upon  themselves,  and  which  totally 
unfits  them  to  beget  sound,  healthy  offspring. 

Often  the  effects  of  this  evil  may  be  traced  in  a 
large  family  of  children,  nearly  all  of  whom  show 
traces  of  the  excesses  of  their  parents.  It  commonly 
happens,  too,  that  such  large  families  are  on  the  hands 
of  poor  men  who  cannot  earn  enough  to  give  them 
sufficient  food  and  comfortable  clothing,  with  nothing 
whatever  to  provide  for  their  education.  The  over- 
burdened mother  has  her  strength  totally  exhausted 
by  the  excessive  demands  upon  her  system  incident  to 
child-bearing,  so  that  she  is  unable  to  give  her  children 
that  culture  and  training  which  all  children  need. 
More  than  likely  she  feels  that  they  were  forced  upon 
her,  and  hence  she  cannot  have  for  them  all  that  ten- 
der sympathy  and  affection  a  mother  should  feel.  The 
little  ones  grow  up  ignorant,  and  often  vicious;  for 
the  want  of  home  care  drives  them  to  the  street.  Thus 
does  one  evil  create  another. 

It  is  certainly  a  question  which  deserves  some  atten- 
tion, whether  it  is  not  a  sin  for  parents  to  bring  into 
the  world  more  children  than  they  can  properly  care 
for.  If  they  can  rear  and  educate  three  children  i^rop- 
erly,  the  same  work  would  be  only  half  done  for  six; 
and  there  are  already  in  the  world  a  sufficiency  of  half- 


A   CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  527 

raised  people.  From  this  class  of  society  the  ranks  of 
thieves,  drunkards,  beggars,  vagabonds,  and  prosti- 
tutes are  recruited,  ^liy  should  it  be  considered  an 
improper  or  immoral  thing  to  limit  the  number  of 
children  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the  parents  1 
Ought  it  not  to  be  considered  a  crime  against  childhood 
and  against  the  race  to  do  otherwise?  It  is  seriously 
maintained  by  a  number  of  distinguished  persons  that 
man  ' '  is  in  duty  bound  to  limit  the  number  of  his  chil- 
dren as  well  as  the  sheep  on  his  farm,  the  number  of 
each  to  be  according  to  the  adequacy  of  his  means  for 
their  support." 

Transgression  of  nature's  law  by  indulgence  dur- 
ing pregnancy  is  followed  by  the  worst  results  of  any 
form  of  marital  excess.  The  mother  suffers  doubly, 
because  laden  with  the  burden  of  supporting  two  lives 
instead  of  one.  But  the  results  upon  the  child  are 
especially  disastrous.  During  the  time  when  it  is  re- 
ceiving its  stock  of  vitality,  while  its  plastic  form  is 
being  molded,  and  its  various  organs  acquiring  that 
integrity  of  structure  which  makes  up  what  is  called 
constitutional  vigor,— during  this  most  critical  of  all 
periods  in  the  life  of  the  new  being,  its  resources  are 
exhausted  and  its  structure  is  depraved,  and  thus  con- 
stitutional tendencies  to  disease  are  produced,  by  the 
unnatural  demands  made  upon  the  mother. 

Effect  upon  the  Character.— Still  another  ter- 
rible consequence  results  from  this  practice  so  contrary 
to  nature.  The  delicate  brain,  which  is  being  molded 
with  the  other  organs  of  the  body,  receives  its  cast 
largely  from  those  mental  and  nervous  sensations  and 
actions  of  the  mother  which  are  the  most  intense.  One 
of  the  most  certain  effects  of  sexual  indulgence  at  this 
time  is  to  develop  abnormally  the  sexual  instinct  in  the 


528  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

child.  Here  is  the  key  to  the  origin  of  much  of  the 
sexual  precocitj^  and  depravity  which  curse  humanity. 
Sensuality  is  born  in  the  souls  of  a  large  share  of  the 
rising  generation.  "\\'liat  wonder  that  prostitution 
flourishes  in  spite  of  Christianity  and  civil  law? 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  all  medical 
testimony  concurs  in  forbidding  indulgence  during  ges- 
tation. The  same  reasons  require  its  interdiction 
during  the  nursing  period.  The  fact  that  fecundation 
would  be  impossible  during  pregnancy,  and  that  during 
this  period  the  female,  normally,  has  no  sexual  desire, 
are  other  powerful  arguments  in  favor  of  perfect  con- 
tinence at  this  time. 

We  quote  the  following  from  a  work  on  health  by 
Dr.  J.  R.  Black: 

^^  Coition  during  pregnancy  is  one  of  the  ways  in 
which  the  predisposition  is  laid  for  that  terrible  dis- 
ease in  children,  epilepsy.  The  natural  excitement  of 
the  nervous  system  in  the  mother  by  such  a  cause 
cannot  operate  otherwise  than  by  inflicting  injury  upon 
the  tender  germ  in  the  womb.  This  germ,  it  must  be 
remembered,  derives  every  quality  it  possesses  from 
the  parents,  as  well  as  every  particle  of  matter  of 
which  it  is  composed.  The  old  notion  of  anything  like 
spontaneity  in  the  development  of  the  qualities  of  a 
new  being,  is  at  variance  with  all  the  latest  facts  and 
inductions  concerning  reproduction.  And  so  is  that 
of  a  creative  fiat.  The  smallest  organic  cell,  as  well 
as  the  most  complicated  organism,  in  form  and  qual- 
ity, is  wholly  dependent  upon  the  laws  of  derivation. 

''These  laws  are  competent  to  explain,  however 
subtle  the  ultimate  process  may  be,  the  great  diversi- 
ties of  human  organization  and  character.  Impres- 
sions from  without,  the  emotions,  conduct,  and  play  of 


A   CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  529 

tlie  organic  processes  within,  are  never  alike  from  day 
to  day,  or  from  hour  to  hour ;  and  it  is  from  the  aggre- 
gate of  these  in  the  parents,  but  especially  of  those  in 
the  mother  immediately  before  and  after  concej^tion, 
that  the  quality  of  the  offspring  is  determined.  Sup- 
pose that  there  is  every  now  and  then  an  unnatural, 
excited,  and  exhausted  state  of  the  nervous  system  pro- 
duced in  the  mother  by  excessive  cohabitation,  is  it  any 
wonder  that  the  child's  nervous  system,  which  derives 
its  qualities  from  those  of  its  parents,  should  take  its 
peculiar  stamp  from  that  of  the  parent  in  whom  it 
lives,  moves,  and  has  its  being? 

''In  the  adult,  epilepsy  is  frequently  developed  by 
excessive  venery;  and  the  child  born  with  such  a  pre- 
disposition will  be  exceedingly  liable  to  the  disease 
during  its  early  years,  when  the  nervous  system  is 
notoriously  prone  to  deranged  action  from  very  slight 
disturbing  causes. 

"The  infringement  of  this  law  regulating  inter- 
course during  pregnancy,  also  reacts  injuriously  upon 
the  mental  capacity  of  the  child,  tending  to  give  it  a 
stupid,  animalized  look,  and,  there  is  also  good  reason 
to  believe,  aids  in  developing  the  idiotic  condition." 

Other  Limitations.— Sexual  indulgences  ought  not 
to  occur  after  abortion,  miscarriage,  or  labor  at  full 
term.    Dr.  Parvin  reports  the  following  case: 

''A  friend  in  the  Philadelphia  legal  profession  has 
told  me  of  his  procuring  a  divorce  within  two  years, 
for  a  wife,  on  account  of  her  husband's  cruelty,  and  a 
part  of  that  cruelty  was  the  driving  of  the  nurse  out 
of  his  wife's  room  three  days  after  her  confinement,  in 
order  that  he  might  have  intercourse  with  his  wife." 

A  Selfish  Objection. —The  married  man  will 
raise  the  plea  that  indulgence  is  to  him  a  necessity. 


530  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

He  has  only  to  practice  the  principles  laid  down  for 
the  maintenance  of  continence  to  entirely  remove  any 
such  necessity,  should  there  be  the  slightest  semblance 
of  a  real  demand.  Again,  what  many  mistake  for  an 
indication  of  the  necessity  for  indulgence,  to  relieve 
an  accumulation  of  semen,  is  in  fact,  to  state  the  exact 
truth,  but  a  call  of  nature  for  a  movement  of  the  bow- 
els. How  this  may  occur  has  already  been  explained, 
as  being  due  to  the  pressure  of  the  distended  rectum 
upon  the  internal  organs  of  generation  situated  at  the 
base  of  the  bladder.  It  is  for  this  reason,  chiefly,  that 
a  good  share  of  sexual  excesses  occur  in  the  morning. 

But,  aside  from  all  other  considerations,  is  it  not 
the  most  supreme  selfishness  for  a  man  to  consider 
only  himself  in  his  sexual  relations,  making  his  wife 
wholly  subservient  to  his  own  desires?  As  a  learned 
professor  remarks,  in  speaking  of  woman,  "Who  has 
a  right  to  regard  her  as  a  therapeutic  agent!" 

Brutes  and  Savages  More  Considerate. —It  is 
only  the  civilized.  Christianized  (!)  male  human  being 
who  complains  of  the  restraint  imposed  upon  him  by 
the  laws  of  nature.  The  untutored  barbarian,  even 
some  of  the  lowest  of  those  who  wear  the  human  form, 
together  with  nearly  all  the  various  classes  of  lower 
animals,  abstain  from  sexual  indulgence  during  preg- 
nancy. The  natives  of  the  Gold  Coast  and  many  other 
African  tribes  regard  it  as  a  shameful  offense  to  co- 
habit during  gestation.  In  the  case  of  lower  animals, 
even  when  the  male  desires  indulgence,  the  female 
resents  any  attempt  of  the  sort  by  the  most  vigorous 
resistance. 

Are  not  these  wholesome  lessons  for  that  portion 
of  the  human  race  which  professes  to  rex)resent  the 
accumulated  wisdom,  intelligence,   and  refinement  of 


A   CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED   PEOPLE  531 

the  world  f  Those  who  need  reproof  on  this  point  may 
reflect  that  by  a  continuance  of  the  evil  practice  they 
are  placing  themselves  on  a  plane  even  below  the  un- 
couth negro  who  haunts  the  jungles  of  Southern  Africa. 

We  quote  the  following  from  the  pen  of  a  talented 
professor  in  a  well-known  medical  college: 

"I  believe  we  cannot  too  strenuously  insist  upon 
this  point,— that  sexual  intercourse  should  never  be 
undertaken  with  any  other  object  than  procreation,  and 
never  then  unless  the  conditions  are  favorable  to  the 
production  of  a  new  being  who  will  be  likely  to  have 
cause  to  thankfully  bless  his  parents  for  the  gift  of 
life.  If  this  rule  were  generally  observed,  we  should 
have  no  broken-nosed  Tristram  Shandys  complaining 
of  the  carelessness  of  their  fathers  in  begetting 
them. ' '  * 

"What  May  Be  Done.— But  what  is  the  practical 
conclusion  to  be  drawn  from  all  the  foregoing?  What 
should  people  do?  What  may  they  do?  Dr.  Gardner 
offers  the  following  remarks,  which  partially  answer 
the  questions: 

"We  have  shown  that  we  can  'do  right'  without 
prejudice  to  health  by  the  exercise  of  continence.  Self- 
restraint,  the  ruling  of  the  passions,  is  a  virtue,  and  is 
within  the  power  of  all  well-regulated  minds.  Nor  is 
this  necessarily  perpetual  or  absolute.  The  passions 
may  be  restrained  within  proper  limitations.  He  who 
indulges  in  lascivious  thoughts  may  stimulate  himself 
to  frenzy;  but  if  his  mind  were  under  proper  control, 
he  would  find  other  employment  for  it,  and  his  body, 
obedient  to  its  potent  sway,  would  not  become  the  mas- 
ter of  the  man." 

Wliat  are  the  "proper  limitations'*  every  person 
must  decide  for  himself  in  view  of  the  facts  which  have 

*Dr.  Gerrish. 


532  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

been  presented.  If  he  find  that  the  annnal  in  his  nature 
is  too  strong  to  allow  him  to  comply  with  what  seems 
to  be  the  requirements  of  natural  law,  let  him  approxi- 
mate as  nearly  to  the  right  as  possible.  ''Let  every 
man  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind,"  and  act 
accordingly,  not  forgetting  that  this  is  a  matter  with 
serious  moral  bearings,  and  hence  one  in  which  con- 
science should  be  on  the  alert.  It  is  of  no  use  to  reject 
truth  because  it  is  unpalatable.  There  can  be  nothing 
worse  for  a  man  than  to  ''know  the  truth  and  do 
it  not." 

It  is  but  fair  to  say  that  there  is  a  wide  diversity 
of  opinion  among  medical  men  on  this  subject.  A  very 
few  hold  that  the  sexual  act  should  never  be  indulged 
except  for  the  purpose  of  reproduction,  and  then  only 
at  periods  when  reproduction  will  be  possible.  Others, 
while  equally  opposed  to  the  (excesses,  the  eifects  of 
which  have  been  described,  limit  indulgence  to  the 
number  of  months  in  the  year. 

Read,  reflect,  weigh  well  the  matter,  then  fix  upon 
a  plan  of  action,  and  if  it  be  in  accordance  with  the 
dictates  of  better  judgment,  do  not  swerve  from  it. 

If  the  suggestion  made  near  the  outset  of  these 
remarks,  in  comparing  the  reproductive  function  in 
man  and  animals,— that  the  seasons  of  sexual  approach 
should  be  governed  by  the  inclination  of  the  feniale,— 
were  conscientiously  followed,  it  would  undoubtedly 
do  away  with  at  least  three-fourths  of  the  excesses 
which  have  been  under  consideration.  Before  reject- 
ing the  hint  so  plainly  offered  by  nature,  let  every 
man  consider  for  a  moment  whether  he  has  any  other 
than  purely  selfish  arguments  to  produce  against  it. 

Early  Moderation. —The  time  of  all  others  when 
moderation  is  most  imperatively  demanded,  yet  least 


A   CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  533 

likely  to  be  practiced,  is  at  the  beginning  of  matri- 
monial life.  Many  a  woman  dates  the  beginning  of  a 
life  of  suffering  from  the  first  night  after  marriage; 
and  the  mental  suffering  from  the  disgusting  and  even 
horrible  recollections  of  that  night,  the  events  of  which 
were  scarred  upon  her  mind  as  well  as  upon  her  body, 
have  made  her  wretched  both  mentally  and  physically. 

A  learned  French  writer,  in  referring  to  this  sub- 
ject, says,  "The  husband  who  begins  with  his  wife  by 
a  rape  is  a  lost  man.    He  will  never  be  loved." 

Cases  have  come  under  our  care  of  young  wives 
who  have  required  months  of  careful  treatment  to  re- 
pair the  damage  inflicted  on  their  wedding  night.  A 
medical  writer  has  reported  a  case  in  which  he  was 
called  upon  to  testify  in  a  suit  for  divorce,  which  is  an 
illustration  of  so  gross  a  degree  of  sensuality  that  the 
perpetrator  certainly  deserved  most  severe  punish- 
ment. The  victim,  a  beautiful  and  accomplisUed  youn^ 
lady,  to  please  her  parents,  was  married  to  a  man 
much  older  than  herself,  riches  being  the  chief  attrac- 
tion. She  at  once  began  to  pine,  and  in  a  very  few 
months  was  a  complete  wreck.  Emaciated,  spiritless, 
haggard,  she  was  scarcely  a  shadow  of  her  former  self. 
The  physician  who  was  called  in,  upon  making  a  local 
examination,  found  those  delicate  organs  in  a  state  of 
most  terrible  laceration  and  inflammation.  The  blad- 
der, rectum,  and  other  adjacent  organs  were  highly 
inflamed,  and  sensitive  in  the  highest  degree.  Upon 
inquiring  respecting  the  cause,  he  found  that  from  the 
initial  night  she  had  been  subjected  to  the  most  ex- 
cessive demands  by  her  husband,  "day  and  night." 
The  tortures  she  had  undergone  had  been  terrific ;  and 
her  mind  trembled  upon  the  verge  of  insanity.  She 
entered  suit  for  divorce  on  the  charge  of  cruelty,  but 


534  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

was  defeated,  the  judge  ruling  that  the  law  has  no 
jurisdiction  in  matters  of  that  sort. 

In  another  somewhat  similar  case  that  came  to  our 
knowledge,  a  young  wife  was  delivered  from  the  lech- 
erous assaults  of  her  husband— for  they  were  no  bet- 
ter—by the  common  sense  of  her  neighbor  friends, 
who  gathered  in  force,  and  insisted  upon  their  dis- 
continuance. It  is  only  now  and  then  that  cases  of 
this  sort  come  to  the  surface.  The  majority  of  them 
are  hidden  deep  down  in  the  heart  of  the  poor,  heart- 
broken wife,  and  too  often  they  are  hidden  along  with 
the  victim  in  an  early  grave. 

Prevention  of  Conception.— The  evil  considered 
in  the  preceding  pages  is  by  far  the  greatest  cause  of 
those  which  will  be  dwelt  upon  here.  Excesses  are 
habitually  practiced  through  ignorance  or  carelessness 
of  their  direct  results;  and  then,  to  prevent  the  legiti- 
mate result  of  the  reproductive  act,  innumerable  de- 
vices are  employed  to  render  it  fruitless.  To  even 
mention  all  of  these  would  be  too  great  a  breach  of 
propriety,  even  in  this  plain-spoken  work;  but  accu- 
rate description  is  unnecessary,  since  those  who  need 
this  warning  are  perfectly  familiar  with  at  least  some 
of  the  foul  accessories  of  evil  thus  employed.  We 
cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  from  the  writings  of 
several  of  the  most  eminent  authors  upon  this  subject. 
The  following  paragraphs  are  from  the  distinguished 
Mayer,  who  has  been  already  frequently  quoted: 

''The  numerous  stratagems  invented  by  debauch  to 
annihilate  the  natural  consequences  of  coition,  have  all 
the  same  end  in  view." 

Conjugal  Onanism.— "The  soiling  of  the  conjugal 
bed  by  the  shameful  maneuvers  to  which  we  have  made 
allusion,  is  mentioned  for  the  first  time  in  Gen.  38 : 6, 


A   CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  535 


and  following  verses:  'And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he 
[Onan]  went  in  unto  his  brother's  wife,  that  he  spilled 
it  on  the  ground,  lest  that  he  should  give  seed  to  his 
brother.  And  the  thing  which  he  did  displeased  the 
Lord;  wherefore  he  slew  him.' 

"  Hence  the  name,  conjugal  Onanism. 

"One  cannot  tell  to  what  great  extent  this  vice  is 
practiced,  except  by  observing  its  consequences,  even 
among  people  who  fear  to  commit  the  slightest  sin,  to 
such  a  degree  is  the  public  conscience  perverted  upon 
this  point.  Still,  many  husbands  know  that  nature 
often  succeeds  in  rendering  nugatory  the  most  subtle 
calculations,  and  reconquers  the  rights  which  they  have 
striven  to  frustrate.  No  matter;  they  persevere,  none 
the  less,  and  by  the  force  of  habit  they  poison  the  most 
blissful  moments  of  life,  with  no  surety  of  averting 
the  result  that  they  fear.  So,  who  knows  if  the  infants, 
too  often  feeble  and  weazen,  are  not  the  fruit  of  these 
in  themselves  incomplete  procreations,  and  disturbed 
by  preoccupations  foreign  to  the  generic  act?  Is  it 
not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  creative  power,  not 
meeting  in  its  disturbed  functions  the  conditions  nec- 
essary for  the  elaboration  of  a  normal  product,  the 
conception  might  be  from  its  origin  imperfect,  arid  the 
being  which  t3roceeded  therefrom,  one  of  those  mon- 
sters which  are  described  in  treatises  on  teratology?" 

"Let  us  see,  now,  what  are  the  consequences  to 
those  given  to  this  practice  of  conjugal  Onanism. 

"We  have  at  our  disposition  numerous  facts  which 
rigorously  prove  the  disastrous  influence  of  abnormal 
coitus  to  the  woman,  but  we  think  it  useless  to  publish 
them.  All  practitioners  have  more  or  less  observed 
them,  and  it  will  only  be  necessary  for  them  to  call 
upon  their  memories  to  supply  what  our  silence  leaves. 


536  PLAIN    FACTS   TOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

'However,  it  is  not  difficult  to  conceive,'  says  Dr. 
Francis  Devay,  'the  degree  of  perturbation  that  a  like 
practice  should  exert  upon  the  genital  system  of  woman 
by  provoking  desires  which  are  not  gratified.  A  pro- 
found stimulation  is  felt  through  the  entire  apparatus ; 
the  uterus,  Fallopian  tubes,  and  ovaries  enter  into  a 
state  of  orgasm,  a  storm  which  is  not  appeased  by  the 
natural  crisis.  It  is  to  this  cause,  too  often  repeated, 
that  we  should  attribute  the  multiple  neuroses,  those 
strange  aifections  which  originate  in  the  genital  sys- 
tem of  woman.  Our  conviction  respecting  them  is 
based  upon  a  great  number  of  observations.  Further- 
more, the  normal  relations  existing  between  the  mar- 
ried couple  undergo  unfortunate  changes;  this  affec- 
tion, founded  upon  reciprocal  esteem,  is  little  by  little 
effaced  by  the  repetition  of  an  act  which  pollutes  the 
marriage  bed;  from  thence  proceed  certain  hard  feel- 
ings, certain  deep  impressions  which,  gradually  grow- 
ing, eventuate  in  the  scandalous  ruptures  of  which  the 
community  rarely  know  the  real  motive.' 

"If  the  good  harmony  of  families  and  their  recip- 
rocal relations  are  seriously  menaced  by  the  invasion 
of  these  detestable  practices,  the  health  of  women,  as 
we  have  already  intimated,  is  fearfully  injured.  A 
great  number  of  neuralgias  appear  to  us  to  have  no 
other  cause.  Many  women  that  we  have  mterrogated 
on  this  matter  have  fortified  this  opinion.  But  that 
which  to  us  has  passed  to  the  condition  of  incontestable 
•proof,  is  the  prevalence  of  uterine  troubles,  of  enerva- 
tion among  the  married,  hysterical  symptoms  which 
are  met  with  in  the  conjugal  relation  as  often  as  among 
young  virgins,  arising  from  the  vicious  habits  of  the 
husbands  in  their  conjugal  intercourse.  .  .  .  Still  more, 
there  is  a  graver  affection,  which  is  daily  increasing, 


A   CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  537 

and  which,  if  nothing  arrests  its  invasion,  will  soon 
have  attained  the  proportions  of  a  scourge;  we  speak 
of  the  degeneration  of  the  womb.  We  do  not  hesitate 
to  place  in  the  foremost  rank,  among  the  causes  of  this 
redoubtable  disease,  the  refinements  of  civilization,  and 
especially  the  artifices  introduced  in  our  day  in  the 
generic  act.  When  there  is  no  procreation,  although 
the  procreative  faculties  are  excited,  we  see  these 
pseudo-morphoses  arise.  Thus  it  is  noticed  that  polypi 
and  schirrus  [cancer]  of  the  womb  are  common  among 
prostitutes. ' ' 

"We  may,  we  trust,  be  pardoned  for  remarking 
ujDon  the  artifices  imagined  to  prevent  fecundation,  that 
there  is  in  them  an  immense  danger,  of  incalculable 
limits.  We  do  not  fear  to  be  contradicted  or  taxed 
with  exaggeration  in  elevating  them  into  the  propor- 
tions of  a  true  calamity." 

The  following  is  from  an  eminent  physician  *  who 
for  many  years  devoted  his  whole  attention  to  the  dis- 
eases of  women,  and  lectured  upon  the  subject  in  a 
prominent  medical  college: 

''It  is  undeniable  that  all  the  methods  employed 
to  prevent  pregnancy  are  physically  injurious.  Some 
of  these  have  been  characterized  with  sufficient  explic- 
itness,  and  the  injury  resulting  from  incomplete  coitus 
to  both  parties  has  been  made  evident  to  all  who  are 
willing  to  be  convinced.  It  should  require  but  a  mo- 
ment's consideration  to  convince  any  one  of  the  harm- 
fulness  of  the  common  use  of  cold  ablutions  and 
astringent  infusions  and  various  medicated  washes. 
Simple,  and  often  wonderfully  salutary,  as  is  cold 
water  to  a  diseased  limb  festering  with  inflammation, 
yet  few  are  rash  enough  to  cover  a  gouty  toe,  rheu- 
matic knee,  or  erysipelatous  head  with  cold  water. 

*Dr.  Gardner.         32 


538  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

.  .  .  Yet,  when  in  the  general  state  of  nervous  and 
physical  excitement  attendant  upon  coitus,  when  the 
organs  principally  engaged  in  this  act  are  congested 
and  turgid  with  blood,  do  you  think  you  can  with  im- 
punity throw  a  flood  of  cold  or  even  lukewarm  water 
far  into  the  vitals  in  a  continual  stream?  Often,  too, 
women  add  strong  medicinal  agents,  intended  to  de- 
stroy by  dissolution  the  spermatic  germs,  ere  they  have 
time  to  fulfill  their  natural  destiny.  These  powerful 
astringents  suddenly  corrugate,  and  close  the  glandu- 
lar structure  of  the  parts,  and  this  is  followed,  neces- 
sarily, by  a  corresponding  reaction,  and  the  final  result 
is  debility  and  exhaustion,  signalized  by  leucorrhea, 
prolapsus,  and  other  diseases. 

"Finally,  of  the  use  of  intermediate  tegumentar> 
coverings,  made  of  thin  rubber  or  gold-beater's  skin, 
and  so  often  relied  upon  as  absolute  preventives, 
Madame  de  Stael  is  reputed  to  have  said,  'They  are 
cobwebs  for  j)rotection,  and  bulwarks  against  love.' 
Their  employment  certainly  must  produce  a  feeling 
of  shame  and  disgust  utterly  destructive  of  the  true 
delight  of  pure  hearts  and  refined  sensibilities.  They 
are  suggestive  of  licentiousness  and  the  brothel,  and 
their  employment  degrades  to  bestiality  the  true  feel- 
ings of  manhood  and  the  holy  state  of  matrimony. 
Neither  do  they  give,  except  in  a  very  limited  degree, 
the  protection  desired.  Furthermore,  they  produce 
(as  alleged  by  the  best  modern  French  writers,  who 
are  more  familiar  with  the  effect  of  their  use  than  we 
are  in  the  United  States)  certain  physical  lesions  from 
their  irritating  presence  as  foreign  bodies,  and  also 
from  the  chemicals  employed  in  their  fabrication,  and 
other  effects  inseparable  from  their  employment,  oft- 
times  of  a  really  serious  nature. 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  539 

"I  will  not  further  enlarge  upon  these  instrumen- 
talities. Sufficient  has  been  said  to  convince  any  one 
that  to  trifle  with  the  grand  functions  of  our  organ- 
ism, to  attempt  to  deceive  and  thwart  nature  in  her 
highly  ordained  prerogatives,  no  matter  how  simple 
seem  to  be  the  means  employed,  is  to  incur  a  heavy 
responsibility  and  run  a  fearful  risk.  It  matters  little 
whether  a  railroad  train  is  thrown  from  the  track  by 
a  frozen  drop  of  rain  or  a  huge  boulder  lying  in  the 
way;  the  result  is  the  same,  the  injuries  as  great. 
Moral  degradation,  physical  disability,  premature  ex- 
haustion and  decrepitude,  are  the  result  of  these  phys- 
ical frauds,  and  force  upon  our  conviction  the  adage, 
which  the  history  of  every  day  confirms,  that  'honesty 
is  the  best  policy.'  " 

"Male  Continence."— A  peculiar  method,  mis- 
named ''male  continence"  was  practiced  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Oneida  Community,  and  has  been  recom- 
mended by  some  writers  as  physiological  and  proper. 
The  very  opposite  is  true.  This  abominable  practice 
can  be  considered  as  nothing  better  than  double  mas- 
turbation. Its  terrible  results  do  not  differ  much  from 
those  of  solitary  vice. 

Shaker  Views.— The  Shakers  do  not,  as  many  sup- 
pose, believe  wholly  in  celibacy.  They  believe  in  mar- 
riage and  reproduction  regulated  by  the  natural  law, 
and  would  limit  population,  but  not  by  interfering 
with  nature;  rather,  by  following  nature's  indications 
to  the  very  letter.  They  believe  "that  no  animals 
should  use  their  reproductive  powers  and  organs  for 
any  other  than  the  simple  purpose  of  procreation." 
Recognizing  the  fact  that  this  is  the  law  among  lower 
animals,  they  insist  upon  applying  it  to  man.  Thus 
they  find  no  necessity  for  the  employment  of  those 


540  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

abominable  contrivances  so  common  among  those  who 
disregard  the  laws  of  nature.  "Who  will  not  respect 
the  pnrity  which  must  characterize  sexual  relations  so 
governed  ? 

Moral  Bearings  of  the  duestion.— Most  of  the 
considerations  presented  thus  far  have  been  of  a  phys- 
ical character,  though  occasional  references  to  the 
moral  aspect  of  the  question  have  been  made.  In  a 
certain  sense— and  a  true  one— the  question  is  wholly 
a  moral  one ;  for  what  moral  right  have  men  or  women 
to  do  that  which  will  injure  the  integrity  of  the  phys- 
ical organism  given  them,  and  for  which  they  are  ac- 
countable to  their  Creator!  — Surely  none;  for  the  man 
who  destroys  himself  by  degrees  is  no  less  a  murderer 
than  he  who  cuts  his  throat  or  sends  a  bullet  through 
his  brain.  The  crime  is  the  same,  being  the  shortening 
of  human  life,  whether  the  injury  is  done  to  one's  self 
or  to  another.  In  this  matter,  there  are  at  least  three 
sufferers;  the  husband,  the  wife,  and  the  offspring, 
though  in  most  cases,  doubtless,  the  husband  is  the  one 
to  whom  the  sin  almost  exclusively  belongs. 

ITneonsidered  Murders.— But  there  is  a  more  start- 
ling phase  of  this  moral  question.  It  is  not  impossible 
to  prove  that  actual  violence  is  done  to  a  human  life. 

It  has  been  previously  shown  that  in  the  two  ele- 
ments, the  ovum  of  the  female  and  the  spermatozoon 
of  the  male,  are  all  the  elements,  in  rudimentary  form, 
which  go  to  make  up  the  ''human  form  divine." 
Alone,  neither  of  these  elements  can  become  anything 
more  than  it  already  is;  but  the  instant  they  come  in 
contact,  fecundation  takes  place,  and  the  individual  life 
begins.  From  that  moment  until  maturity  is  reached, 
years  subsequently,  the  whole  process  is  only  one  of 
development.    Nothing  absolutely  new  is  added  at  any 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED   PEOPLE  541 

subsequent  moment.  In  view  of  these  facts,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  at  the  very  instant  of  conception  the  embry- 
onic human  being  possesses  all  the  right  to  life  it  ever 
can  possess.  It  is  just  as  much  an  individual,  a  dis- 
tinct human  being,  possessed  of  soul  and  body,  as  it 
ever  is,  though  in  a  very  immature  form.  That  con- 
ception may  take  place  during  the  reproductive  act 
cannot  be  denied.  If,  then,  means  are  employed  with 
a  view  to  prevent  conception  immediately  after  the 
accomplishment  of  the  act,  or  to  suspend  it  at  any 
subsequent  time,  it  would  be  done  by  destroying  the 
delicate  product  of  the  conception  which  had  already 
occurred,  and  which,  as  before  observed,  is  as  truly  a 
distinct  individual  as  it  can  ever  become,— certainly 
as  independent  as  at  any  time  previous  to  birth. 

Is  it  immoral  to  take  human  life?  Is  it  a  sin  to 
kill  a  child!  Is  it  a  crime  to  strangle  an  infant  at 
birth?  Is  it  a  murderous  act  to  destroy  a  half -formed 
human  being  in  its  mother's  womb?  Wlio  will  dare 
to  answer.  No,  to  one  of  these  questions?  Tnen  who 
can  refuse  assent  to  the  plain  truth  that  it  is  equally  a 
murder  to  deprive  of  life  the  most  recent  product  of 
the  generative  act? 

Wlio  can  number  the  myriads  of  murders  that  have 
been  perpetrated  at  this  early  period  of  existence? 
Wlio  can  estimate  the  load  of  guilt  that  weighs  upon 
some  human  souls?  "Who  knows  how  many  brilliant 
lights  have  been  thus  early  extinguished?  how  many 
promising  human  plantlets  thus  ruthlessly  destroyed 
in  the  very  act  of  germinating?  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
in  the  final  account  the  extenuating  influence  of  igno- 
rance may  weigh  heavily  in  the  scale  of  justice  against 
the  damning  testimony  of  these  ''unconsidered  mur- 
ders. ' ' 


542  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

The  Charge  Disputed.— It  will  be  urged  that  these 
early  destructions  are  not  murders.  Murder  is  an 
awful  word.  The  act  itself  is  a  terrible  crime.  No 
wonder  that  its  personal  application  should  be  studi- 
ously avoided ;  the  human  being  who  would  not  shrink 
from  such  a  charge  would  be  unworthy  of  the  name  of 
human— a  very  brute.  Nevertheless,  it  is  necessary  to 
look  the  plain  facts  squarely  in  the  face,  and  shrink 
not  from  the  decision  of  an  enlightened  conscience. 
We  quote  the  following  portions  of  an  extract  which 
we  give  in  full  elsewhere;  it  is  from  the  same  distin- 
guished authority  *  so  frequently  quoted : 

"There  is,  in  fact,  no  moment  after  conception 
when  it  can  be  said  that  the  child  has  not  life,  and  the 
crime  of  destroying  human  life  is  as  heinous  and  as 
sure  before  the  period  of  'quickening'  has  been  at- 
tained, as  afterward.  But  you  still  defend  your  hor- 
rible deed  by  saying:  'Well,  if  there  be,  as  you  say, 
this  mere  animal  life,  equivalent  at  the  most  to  simple 
vitality,  there  is  no  mind,  no  soul,  destroyed,  and  there- 
fore there  is  no  crime  committed.'  Just  so  surely  as 
one  would  destroy  and  root  out  of  existence  all  the 
fowls  in  the  world  by  destroying  all  the  eggs  in  exist- 
ence, so  certain  is  it  that  you  do  by  your  act  destroy 
the  animal  man  in  the  egg,  and  the  soul  which  animates 
it.  .  .  .  Murder  is  always  sinful,  and  murder  is  the  wilful 
destruction  of  a  human  being  at  any  period  of  its  ex- 
istence, from  its  earliest  germinal  embryo  to  its  final, 
simple,  animal  existence  in  aged  decrepitude  and  com- 
plete mental  imbecility." 

Difficulties.— Married  people  will  exclaim,  ''What 
shall  we  do?"  Delicate  mothers  who  have  already 
more  children  on  their  hands  than  they  can  care  for, 
whose  health  is  insufficient  to  lonsrer  endure  the  pains 

*  Gardner 


A   CHAPTER    FOR   MARRIED    PEOPLE  543 

and  burdens  of  pregnancy,  but  whose  sensual  hus- 
bands continue  to  demand  indulgence,  will  echo  in  de- 
spairing tones,  while  acknowledging  the  truth,  ''What 
shall  IV e  do?"  We  will  answer  the  question  for  the 
latter  first. 

Mr.  Mill,  the  distinguished  English  logician,  in  his 
work  on  ' '  The  Subjection  of  Woman, ' '  thus  represents 
the  erroneous  view  which  is  popularly  held  concerning 
the  sexual  relations  of  the  wife  to  the  husband:  ''The 
wife,  however  brutal  a  tyrant  she  may  be  chained  to, 
—though  she  may  know  that  he  hates  her,  though  it 
may  be  his  daily  pleasure  to  torture  her,  and  though 
she  may  feel  it  impossible  not  to  loathe  him,— he  can 
claim  from  her  and  enforce  the  lowest  degradation  of 
a  human  being,  that  of  being  made  the  instrument  of 
an  animal  function  contrary  to  her  inclinations." 

Woman's  Rights.— A  woman  does  not,  upon  the 
performance  of  the  marriage  ceremony,  surrender  all 
her  personal  rights.  The  law  recognizes  this  fact  if 
her  husband  beats  her,  or  in  any  way  injures  her  by 
physical  force,  or  even  by  neglect.  Why  may  she  not 
claim  protection  from  other  maltreatment  as  well?  or, 
at  least,  why  may  she  not  refuse  to  lend  herself  to 
beastly  lust?  She  remains  the  proprietor  of  her  own 
body,  though  married;  and  who  is  so  lost  to  all  sense 
of  justice,  equity,  and  even  morality,  as  to  claim  that 
she  is  under  any  moral  obligation  to  allow  her  body  to 
be  abused? 

"But  such  a  course  would  lead  to  separation  and 
divorce  in  numerous  cases. ' '  "WTio  will  contend  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  relation  which  has  no  other  bond 
than  lust,  which  views  no  other  object  than  the  gratifi- 
cation of  the  animal  passions?  Were  not  such  a  bond 
better  broken  than  preserved,  and  were  not  such  an 


544  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

object  better  frustrated  than  attained!  Judge  can- 
didly. 

We  have  carefully  avoided  any  attempt  to  point 
out  the  duty  of  a  woman  under  the  circumstances 
named.  That  must  be  left  for  her  to  settle  with  her  own 
conscience  after  receiving  due  information.  Some  will 
not  hesitate  to  urge  her  to  assert  and  maintain  her 
rights  at  all  hazard.  Should  a  woman  feel  in  con- 
science bound  to  do  so,  it  would  be  the  duty  of  every 
moral  person  to  support  her ;  for  she  has  an  undoubted 
moral  right,  whether  she  chooses  to  exercise  it  or  not. 

What  to  Do.— Now  to  the  question  as  asked  by 
the  first  parties,— married  people  who  together  seek 
for  a  solution  of  the  difficulties  arising  from  an  aban- 
donment of  all  protectives  against  fecundation.  The 
true  remedy,  and  the  natural  one,  is  doubtless  to  be 
found  in  the  suggestion  made  under  the  heads  of 
''Continence"  and  "Marital  Excesses."  By  a  course 
of  life  in  accordance  with  the  principles  there  indi- 
cated, all  these  evils  and  a  thousand  more  would  be 
avoided.  There  would  be  less  sensual  enjoyment,  but 
more  elevated  joy.  There  would  be  less  animal  love, 
but  more  spiritual  communion;  less  grossness,  more 
purity;  less  development  of  the  animal,  and  a  more 
fruitful  soil  for  the  culture  of  virtue,  holiness,  and  all 
the  Christian  graces. 

"But  such  a  life  would  be  impossible  this  side  of 
heaven,"  many  exclaim.  A  few  who  have  tried  the 
experiment  think  not.  The  Shakers  claim  to  practice, 
as  well  as  teach,  such  principles;  and  with  the  potent 
aids  to  continence  previously  specified,  it  might  be 
found  less  difficult  in  realization  than  in  thought. 

Another  suggestion,  certainly  beneficial  to  individual 
health,  is  that  the  husband  and  wife  should  habitually 


TRUE  TO  NATURE 


545-a 


FALSE  TO  NATURE 

(Cleopatra  Testing  the  Poison  before  Suicide.) 


645-b 


546-a 


CHERISHED  OFFSPRING 


546-b 


A  FOUNDLING 


A   CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  547 

occupy  separate  beds.  Such  a  practice  undoubtedly 
serves  to  keep  the  sexual  instincts  in  abeyance.  Sepa- 
rate apartments,  or  at  least  the  separation  of  the  beds 
by  a  curtain,  is  also  to  be  recommended.  Sleeping  in 
single  beds  is  reputed  to  be  a  European  custom  of  long 
standing  among  the  higher  classes. 

This  subject  cannot  be  concluded  better  than  by  the 
following  quotations  from  an  excellent  and  able  work, 
entitled,  ''The  Ten  Laws  of  Health:"  * 

''The  obvious  design  of  the  sexual  desire  is  the 
reproduction  of  the  species.  .  .  .  The  gratification  of 
this  passion,  or  indeed  of  any  other,  beyond  its  legiti- 
mate end,  is  an  undoubted  violation  of  natural  law, 
as  may  be  determined  by  the  light  of  nature,  and  by 
the  resulting  moral  and  physical  evils." 

' '  Those  creatures  not  gifted  with  erring  reason,  but 
with  unerring  instinct,  and  that  have  not  the  liberty  of 
choice  between  good  and  evil,  cohabit  only  at  stated 
periods,  when  pleasure  and  reproduction  are  alike  pos- 
sible. It  is  so  ordered  among  them  that  the  means  and 
the  end  are  never  separated ;  and  as  it  was  the  All-wise 
Being  who  endowed  them  with  this  instinct,  without 
the  responsibility  resulting  from  the  power  to  act 
otherwise,  it  follows  that  it  is  his  law,  and  must,  there- 
fore, be  the  true  copy  for  all  beings  to  follow  having 
the  same  functions  to  perform,  and  for  the  same  end. 
The  mere  fact  that  men  and  women  have  the  power  and 
liberty  of  conforming  or  not  conforming  to  this  copy 
does  not  set  them  free  from  obedience  to  a  right  course, 
nor  from  the  consequences  of  disobedience." 

"The  end  of  sexual  pleasure  being  to  reproduce 
the  species,  it  follows,  from  the  considerations  just 
advanced,  that  when  the  sexual  function  is  diverted 
from  its  end  (reproduction),  or  if  the  means  be  used 

*  Black. 


548  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD    AND   YOUNG 


when  the  end  is  impossible,  harm  or  injury  should 
ensue. ' ' 

"Perhaps  the  number  is  not  small  of  those  who 
think  there  is  nothing  wrong  in  an  unlimited  indul- 
gence of  the  sexual  propensity  during  married  life. 
The  marriage  vow  seems  to  be  taken  as  equivalent  to 
the  freest  license,  about  which  there  need  be  no  re- 
straint. Yet,  if  there  be  any  truth  in  the  law  in  refer- 
ence to  the  enjoyment  of  the  means  only  when  the  end 
is  possible,  the  necessity  of  the  limitation  of  this  indul- 
gence during  married  life  is  clearly  as  great  as  for 
that  of  any  other  sensual  pleasure. 

"A  great  majority  of  those  constituting  the  most 
highly  civilized  communities,  act  upon  the  belief  that 
anything  not  forbidden  by  sacred  or  civil  law  is  neither 
sinful  nor  wrong.  They  have  not  found  cohabitation 
during  pregnancy  forbidden;  nor  have  they  ever  had 
their  attention  drawn  to  the  injury  to  health  and 
organic  development  which  such  a  practice  inflicts. 
Hence,  a  habitual  yielding  to  inclination  in  this  mat- 
ter has  determined  their  lifelong  behavior. 

' '  The  infringement  of  this  law  in  the  married  state 
does  not  produce  in  the  husband  any  very  serious  dis- 
order. Debility,  aches,  cramps,  and  a  tendency  to 
epileptic  seizures  are  sometimes  seen  as  the  effects  of 
great  excess.  An  evil  of  no  small  account  is  the  steady 
growth  of  the  sexual  passion  by  habitual  unrestraint. 
It  is  in  this  way  that  what  is  known  as  libidinous 
blood  is  nursed  as  well  among  those  who  are  strictly 
virtuous,  in  the  ordinary  meaning  of  the  term,  as 
among  those  who  are  promiscuous  in  their  inter- 
course. 

"  The  wife  and  the  offspring  are  the  chief  sutferers 
by  the  violation  of  this  law  among  the  married.    Why 


A   CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  549 

this  is  SO,  may  in  part  be  accounted  for  by  the  following 
consideration:  Among  the  animal  kind  it  is  the  female 
which  decides  when  the  approaches  of  the  male  are 
allowable.  When  these  are  untimely,  her  instinctive 
prompting  leads  her  to  resist  and  protect  herself  with 
ferocious  zeal.  No  one  at  all  acquainted  with  the  re- 
markable wisdom  nature  invariably  displays  in  all  her 
operations,  will  doubt  that  the  prohibition  of  all  sexual 
intercourse  among  animals  during  the  period  of  preg- 
nancy must  be  for  a  wise  and  good  purpose.  And  if 
it  serves  a  wise  and  good  purpose  with  them,  why 
should  an  opposite  course  not  serve  an  unwise  and  bad 
purpose  with  us  I  Our  bodies  are  very  much  like  theirs 
in  structure  and  in  function ;  and  in  the  mode  and  laws 
that  govern  reproduction  there  is  absolutely  no  differ- 
ence. The  mere  fact  that  we  possess  the  power  to  act 
otherwise  than  they  do  during  that  period,  does  not 
make  it  right. 

''Human  beings  having  no  instinctive  prompting 
as  to  what  is  right  and  what  is  wrong,  cohabitation, 
like  many  other  points  of  the  behavior,  is  left  for  rea- 
son or  the  will  to  determine;  or,  rather,  as  things  now 
are,  to  unreason;  for  reason  is  neither  consulted  nor 
enlightened  as  to  what  is  proper  and  allowable  in  the 
matter.  Nature's  rule,  by  instinct,  makes  it  devolve 
upon  the  female  to  determine  when  the  approaches  of 
the  male  are  allowable. 

''But  some  may  say  that  she  is  helpless  in  the  mat- 
ter. No  one  dare  to  approach  her  without  consent 
before  marriage ;  and  why  should  man  not  be  educated 
up  to  the  point  of  doing  the  same  after  marriage? 
She  is  neither  his  slave  nor  his  property ;  nor  does  the 
tie  of  marriage  bind  her  to  carry  out  any  unnatural 
requirement. ' ' 


550  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 


INFANTICIDE   AND   ABORTION 

Few  but  medical  men  are  aware  of  the  enormous 
proportions  wliicli  have  been  assumed  by  these  terrible 
crimes  during  the  present  century.  That  they  are 
increasing  with  fearful  rapidity,  and  have  really 
reached  such  a  magnitude  as  to  seriously  affect  the 
growth  of  civilized  nations,  and  to  threaten  their  very 
existence,  has  become  a  patent  fact  to  observing  physi- 
cians. The  crime  itself  differs  little  in  reality  from 
that  considered  under  the  heading,  ''Prevention  of 
Conception."  It  is,  in  fact,  the  same  crime  postponed 
till  a  later  period. 

We  quote  the  following  eloquent  words  on  this 
subject : 

''Of  all  the  sins,  physical  and  moral,  against  man 
and  God,  I  know  of  none  so  utterly  to  be  condemned 
as  the  very  common  one  of  the  destruction  of  the  child 
while  yet  in  the  womb  of  the  mother.  So  utterly  re- 
pugnant is  it  that  I  can  scarcely  express  the  loathing 
with  which  I  approach  the  subject!— murder  in  cold 
blood,  without  cause,  of  an  unknown  child,  one's  near- 
est relative;  in  fact,  part  of  one's  very  being,  actually 
having,  not  only  one's  own  blood  in  its  being,  but  that 
blood  momentarily  interchanging!  Good  God!  Does 
it  seem  possible  that  such  depravity  can  exist  in  a 
parent's  breast— in  a  mother's  heart? 

'"Tis  for  no  wrong  that  it  has  committed  that  its 
sweet  life  is  so  cruelly  taken  away.  Its  coming  is  no 
disgrace;  its  creation  was  not  in  sin,  but— its  mother 
'don't  want  to  be  bothered  by  any  more  brats;  can 
hardly  take  care  of  what  she  had  got;  is  going  to 
Europe  in  the  spring.' 


A   CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  551 


''We  may  forgive  the  poor,  deluded  girl— seduced, 
betrayed,  abandoned— who  in  her  wild  frenzy,  destroys 
the  mute  evidence  of  her  guilt.  We  have  sympathy 
and  sorrow  for  her.  But  for  the  married  shirk  who 
disregards  her  divinely  ordained  duty,  we  have  nothing 
but  contempt,  even  if  she  be  the  lordly  woman  of 
fashion,  clothed  in  purple  and  fine  linen.  If  glittering 
gems  adorn  her  person,  within  there  is  foulness  and 
squalor. ' '  * 

Not  a  Modern  Crime.— Although  this  crime  has 
attained  remarkable  proportions  in  modern  times,  it 
is  not  a  new  one  by  any  means,  as  the  following  para- 
graph will  suffice  to  show: 

''Infanticide  and  exposure  were  also  the  custom 
among  the  Eomans,  Medes,  Canaanites,  Babylonians, 
and  other  Eastern  nations,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Israelites  and  Egyptians.  The  Scandinavians  killed 
their  offspring  from  fantasy.  The  Norwegians,  after 
having  carefully  swaddled  their  children,  put  some 
food  into  their  mouths,  placed  them  under  the  roots 
of  trees  or  under  the  rocks,  to  preserve  them  from 
ferocious  beasts.  Infanticide  was  also  permitted 
among  the  Chinese,  and  we  saw,  during  the  last  cen- 
tury, vehicles  going  round  the  streets  of  Pekin  daily 
to  collect  the  bodies  of  the  dead  infants.  To-day  there 
exist  foundling  hospitals  to  receive  children  abandoned 
by  their  parents.  The  same  custom  is  also  observed 
in  Japan,  in  the  isles  of  the  Southern  Ocean,  at  Ota- 
heite,  and  among  several  savage  nations  of  North 
America.  It  is  related  of  the  Jaggers  of  Guinea  that 
they  devour  their  own  children."  t 

The  Greeks  practiced  infanticide  systematically, 
their  laws  at  one  time  requiring  the  destruction  of 
crippled  or  weakly  children.     Among  all  the  various 

*  Gardner ,        t  Burdach , 


552  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

nations,  the  general  object  of  the  crime  seems  to  have 
been  to  avoid  the  trouble  of  rearing  children,  or  to 
avoid  a  surplus,  objects  not  far  different  from  those 
had  in  view  by  persons  who  practice  the  same  crimes 
at  the  present  time. 

The  destruction  of  the  child  after  the  mother  has 
felt  its  movements,  is  termed  infanticide;  before  that 
time  it  is  commonly  known  as  abortion.  It  is  a  mod- 
ern notion  that  the  child  possesses  no  soul  or  individ- 
ual life  until  the  period  of  quickening,— an  error  which 
we  have  already  sufficiently  exposed.  The  ancients, 
with  just  as  much  reason,  contended  that  no  distinct 
life  was  present  until  after  birth.  Hence  it  was  that 
they  could  practice  without  scruple  the  crime  of  in- 
fanticide to  prevent  too  great  increase  of  population. 
"Plato  and  Aristotle  were  advocates  of  this  practice, 
and  these  Stoics  justified  this  monstrous  practice  by 
alleging  that  the  child  only  acquired  a  soul  at  the 
moment  when  it  ceased  to  have  uterine  life  and  com- 
menced to  respire.  From  hence  it  resulted  that,  the 
child  not  being  animated,  its  destruction  was  no 
murder. ' ' 

The  prevalence  of  this  crime  will  be  indicated 
by  the  following  observations  from  the  most  reliable 
sources : 

''We  know  that  in  certain  countries  abortion  is 
practiced  in  a  manner  almost  public,  without  speaking 
of  the  East,  where  it  has,  so  to  speak,  entered  into  the 
manners  of  the  country.  We  see  it  in  America,  in 
a  great  city  like  New  York,  constituting  a  regular  busi- 
ness, and  not  jDrevented,  where  it  has  enriched  more 
than  one  midwife." 

''England  does  not  yield  to  Germany  or  France  in 
the  frequency  of  the  crime  of  infanticide. ' '  * 

*Jardien. 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   MARRIED   PEOPLE  553 

''Any  statistics  attainable  are  very  incomplete. 
False  certificates  are  daily  given  by  attending  physi- 
cians. Men,  if  they  are  only  rich  enough,  die  of  'con- 
gestion of  the  brain,'  not  'delirium  tremens;'  and 
women,  similarly  situated,  do  not  die  from  the  ef- 
fects of  abortion,  but  of  'inflammation  of  the  bowels,' 
etc." 

"Infanticide,  as  it  is  generally  considered  (destroy- 
ing a  child  after  quickening),  is  of  very  rare  occur- 
rence in  New  York;  whereas  abortions  (destroying  the 
embryo  before  quickening)  are  of  daily  habit  in  the 
families  of  the  best  informed  and  most  religious; 
among  those  abounding  in  wealth,  as  well  as  among 
the  poor  and  needy. "  * 

"Perhaps  only  medical  men  will  credit  the  asser- 
tion that  the  frequency  of  this  form  of  destroying 
human  life  exceeds  all  others  by  at  least  fifty  per  cent, 
and  that  not  more  than  one  in  a  thousand  of  the  guilty 
parties  receive  any  punishment  by  the  hand  of  civil 
law.  But  there  is  a  surer  mode  of  punishment  for  the 
guilty  mother  in  the  self-executing  laws  of  nature."  t 

' '  From  a  very  large  verbal  and  written  correspond- 
ence in  this  and  other  States,  I  am  satisfied  that  we 
have  become  a  nation  of  murderers."  X 

Said  a  distinguished  clergyman  of  Brooklyn  in  a 
sermon,  "Why  send  missionaries  to  India  when  child- 
murder  is  here  of  daily,  almost  hourly,  occurrence; 
aye,  when  the  hand  that  puts  money  into  the  contribu- 
tion-box to-day,  yesterday,  or  a  month  ago  did,  or 
to-morrow  will,  murder  her  own  unborn  offspring? 

"The  Hindoo  mother,  when  she  abandons  her  babe 
upon  the  sacred  Ganges,  is,  contrary  to  her  heart, 
obeying  a  supposed  religious  law,  and  you  desire  to 
convert  her  to  your  own  worship  of  the  Moloch  of 

*  Gardner.        t  Black.        $Reamy. 


554         PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

Fashion  and  Laziness  and  love  of  Greed.  Out  upon 
such  hypocrisy!" 

Writers  tell  us  that  it  has  even  become  the  boast 
of  many  women  that  they  '^know  too  much  to  have 
babies." 

Causes  of  the  Crime.— Many  influences  may  com- 
bine to  cause  the  mother  ruthlessly  to  destroy  her 
helpless  child;  as,  to  conceal  the  result?  of  sin,  to 
avoid  the  burdens  of  maternity,  to  sf  .re  ease  and 
freedom  to  travel,  etc.,  or  even  from  p  /alse  idea  that 
maternity  is  vulgar ;  but  it  is  true,  beyond  all  question, 
that  the  primary  cause  of  the  sin  is  far  back  of  all 
these  influences.  The  most  unstinted  and  scathing  in- 
vectives are  used  in  characterizing  the  criminality  of 
a  mother  who  takes  the  life  of  her  unborn  babe;  but 
a  word  is  seldom  said  of  the  one  who  forced  upon  her 
the  circumstances  which  gave  the  unfortunate  one  ex- 
istence. Though  doctors,  ministers,  and  moralists  have 
said  much  on  this  subject,  and  written  more,  it  is  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  that  they  will  never  accomplish 
much,  if  anything,  in  the  direction  of  reform  until  they 
recognize  the  part  the  man  acts  in  all  these  sad  cases, 
and  begin  to  demand  reform  where  it  is  most  needed, 
and  where  its  achievement  will  effect  the  most  good. 
As  was  observed  in  the  remarks  upon  the  subject  of 
''Prevention  of  Conception,"  this  evil  has  its  origin 
in  "marital  excesses,"  and  in  a  disregard  of  the  natu- 
ral law  which  makes  the  female  the  sole  proprietor 
of  her  own  body,  and  gives  to  her  the  right  to  refuse 
the  approaches  of  the  male  when  unprepared  to  re- 
ceive them  without  doing  violence  to  the  laws  of  her 
being. 

The  Nature  of  the  Crime.— "The  married  and 
well-to-do,  who  by  means  of  medicines  and  operations 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  555 

produce  abortions  at  early  periods  of  pregnancy,  have 
no  excuse,  except  the  pretense  that  they  do  not  con- 
sider it  murder  until  the  child  quickens. 

''No,  not  murder,  you  say,  for  'there  has  not  been 
any  life  in  the  child.'  Do  not  attempt  to  evade,  even 
to  man,  a  crime  which  cannot  be  hidden  from  the 
All-seeing.  The  poor  mother  has  not  herself  felt  the 
life  of  the  child  perhaps,  but  that  is  a  quibble  only 
of  the  laws  of  man,  founded  indeed  upon  the  view, 
now  universally  recognized  as  incorrect,  that  the 
child's  life  began  when  its  movements  were  first  strong 
enough  to  be  perceptible.  There  is,  in  fact,  no  mo- 
ment after  conception  when  it  can  be  said  that  the 
child  has  not  life,  and  the  crime  of  destroying  human 
life  is  as  heinous  and  as  sure  before  the  period  of 
'quickening'  has  been  attained  as  afterward.  But  you 
still  defend  your  horrible  deed  by  saying,  'Well,  if 
there  be,  as  you  say,  this  mere  animal  life,  equivalent 
at  the  most  to  simple  vitality,  there  is  no  mind,  no  soul 
destroyed,  and  therefore  there  is  no  crime  committed.' 
Just  so  surely  as  one  would  destroy  and  root  out  of 
existence  all  the  fowls  in  the  world  by  destroying  all 
the  eggs  in  existence,  so  certain  it  is  that  you  do  by 
your  act  destroy  the  animal  man  in  the  egg,  and  the 
soul  which  animates  it.  A^'lien  is  the  period  that  in- 
telligence comes  to  the  infant!  Are  its  first  feeble 
strugglings  any  evidence  of  its  presence?  Has  it  any 
appreciable  quantity  at  birth!  Has  it  any  valuable, 
useful  quantity  even  when  a  year  old!  When,  then, 
is  it  that  destruction  is  harmless  or  comparatively  sin- 
less! Wliile  awaiting  your  metaphysical  answer,  I 
will  tell  you  when  it  is  sinful.  Murder  is  always 
sinful,  and  murder  is  the  wilful  destruction  of  a 
human  being  at  any  period  of  its  existence,  from  its 

33 


556  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

earliest  germinal  embryo  to  its  final,  simple,  animal 
existence  in  aged  decrepitude  and  complete  mental 
imbecility. ' '  * 

' '  There  are  those  who  would  fain  make  light  of  this 
crime  by  attempting  to  convince  themselves  and  others 
that  a  child,  while  in  embryo  has  only  a  sort  of  vege- 
tative life,  not  yet  endowed  with  thought  and  the  abil- 
ity to  maintain  an  independent  existence.  If  such  a 
monstrous  philosophy  as  this  presents  any  justification 
for  such  an  act,  then  the  killing  of  a  newly  born  infant 
or  of  an  idiot  may  be  likewise  justified.  The  destruc- 
tion of  the  life  of  an  unborn  human  being,  for  the 
reason  that  it  is  small,  feeble,  and  innocently  helpless, 
rather  aggravates  than  palliates  the  crime.  Every  act 
of  this  kind,  with  its  justification,  is  obviously  akin  to 
that  savage  philosophy  which  accounts  it  a  matter  of 
no  moment,  or  rather  a  dutj^,  to  destroy  feeble  infants, 
or  old,  helpless  fathers  and  mothers."  t 

Instruments  of  Crime.— "The  means  through 
which  abortions  are  effected  are  various.  Sometimes 
it  is  through  potent  drugs,  extensively  advertised  in 
newspapers  claiming  to  be  moral!— the  advertisements 
so  adroitly  worded  as  to  convey  under  a  caution  the 
precise  information  required  of  the  liability  of  the  drug 
to  produce  miscarriages.  Sometimes  the  information 
is  conveyed  through  secret  circulars;  but  more  com- 
monly the  deed  is  consummated  by  professed  abor- 
tionists, who  advertise  themselves  as  such  through 
innuendo,  or  through  gaining  this  kind  of  repute  by 
the  frequent  commission  of  the  act.  Not  a  few  women, 
deterred  by  lingering  modesty  or  some  sense  of  shame, 
attempt  and  execute  it  upon  themselves,  and  then  vol- 
unteer to  instruct  and  encourage  others  to  go  and  do 
likewise. ' '  t 

*  Gardner,        t  Black. 


A    CHAPTER   FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  557 

Results  of  This  Unnatural  Crime.  —It  is  the 
universal  testimony  of  physicians  that  the  effects  of 
abortion  are  ahnost  as  deadly  upon  the  mother  as  upon 
the  child.  The  amount  of  suffering  is  vastly  greater; 
for  that  of  the  child,  if  it  suffer  at  all,  is  only  momen- 
tary, in  general,  while  the  mother  is  doomed  to  a  life 
of  suffering,  of  misery,  if  she  survives  the  shock  of 
the  terrible  outrage  "against  her  nature.  It  has  been 
proved  by  statistics  that  the  danger  of  immediate  death 
is  fifteen  times  as  great  as  in  natural  childbirth.  A 
medical  author  of  note  asserts  that  a  woman  suffers 
more  injury  from  one  abortion  than  she  would  from 
twenty  normal  births.  Says  an  eminent  physician  on 
this  point: 

"We  know  that  the  popular  idea  is  that  women  are 
worn  out  by  the  toil  and  wear  connected  with  the  rais- 
ing of  large  families,  and  we  can  willingly  concede 
something  to  this  statement;  but  it  is  certainly  far 
more  observable  that  the  eiforts  at  the  present  day 
made  to  avoid  propagation,  are  ten  thousandfold  more 
disastrous  to  the  health  and  constitution,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  demoralization  of  mind  and  heart,  which 
cannot  be  estimated  by  red  cheeks  or  physical  vigor." 

But  suppose  the  mother  does  not  succeed  in  her 
attempts  against  the  life  of  her  child,  as  she  may  not; 
what  fearful  results  may  follow !  A'\^io  can  doubt  that 
the  murderous  intent  of  the  mother  will  be  stamped 
indelibly  upon  the  character  of  the  unwelcome  child, 
giving  it  a  natural  propensity  for  the  commission  of 
murderous  deeds? 

Then  again,— sickening  thought,— suppose  the  at- 
tempts to  destroy  the  child  are  unsuccessful,  resulting 
only  in  horrid  mutilation  of  its  tender  form ;  when  such 
a  child  is  born,  what  terrible  evidences  may  it  bear  in 


558  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

its  crippled  and  misshapen  body  of  the  cruel  outrage 
perpetrated  upon  it!  That  such  cases  do  occur  is  cer- 
tain from  the  following  narrative: 

''A  lady,  determined  not  to  have  any  more  children, 
went  to  a  professed  abortionist,  and  he  attempted  to 
effect  the  desired  end  by  violence.  With  a  pointed 
instrument  the  attempt  was  again  and  again  made,  but 
without  the  looked-for  result.  So  vigorously  was  the 
effort  made,  that,  astonished  at  no  results  being  ob- 
tained, the  individual  stated  that  there  must  be  some 
mistake,  that  the  lady  could  not  be  pregnant,  and  re- 
fused to  perform  any  further  operations.  Partially 
from  doubt  and  partially  from  fear,  nothing  further 
was  attempted;  and  in  due  process  of  time  the  woman 
was  delivered  of  an  infant,  shockingly  mutilated,  with 
one  eye  entirel}^  put  out,  and  the  brain  so  injured  that 
this  otherwise  robust  child  was  entirely  wanting  in 
ordinary  sense.  This  poor  mother,  it  would  seem, 
needs  no  future  punishment  for  her  sin.  Ten  years 
face  to  face  with  this  poor  idiot,  whose  imbecility  was 
her  direct  work— has  it  not  punished  her  sufficiently?" 

An  Unwelcome  Child.— A  number  of  years  ago, 
a  woman  called  on  the  writer,  stating  that  she  had  be- 
come pregnant  much  against  her  wishes,  and  earnestly 
desired  that  an  abortion  should  be  produced.  The 
following  conversation  ensued: 

"Why  do  you  desire  the  destruction  of  your  un- 
born infant?" 

''Because  I  already  have  three  children,  which  are 
as  many  as  I  can  properly  care  for;  besides,  my  health 
is  poor,  and  I  do  not  feel  that  I  can  do  justice  to  what 
children  I  now  have." 

"Your  chief  reason,  then,  is  that  you  do  not  wish 
more  children?" 


A    CHAPTER    FOR    MARRIED    PEOPLE  559 

"Yes." 

''On  this  account  you  are  willing  to  take  the  life  of 
this  unborn  babe?" 

''I  must  get  rid  of  it." 

''I  understand  that  you  have  already  borne  three 
children,  and  that  you  do  not  think  you  are  able  to  care 
for  more.  Four  children  are,  you  think,  one  too  many, 
and  so  you  are  willing  to  destroy  one.  Why  not  de- 
stroy one  of  those  already  born?" 

"Oh,  that  would  be  murder!" 

"It  certainly  would,  but  no  more  murder  than  it 
would  be  to  kill  this  unborn  infant.  Indeed,  the  little 
one  you  are  carrying  in  your  womb  has  greater  claims 
upon  you  than  the  little  ones  at  home,  by  virtue  of  its 
entire  dependence  and  helplessness.  It  is  just  as  much 
your  child  as  those  whose  faces  are  familiar  to  you, 
and  whom  you  love.  A¥liy  should  you  be  more  willing 
to  take  its  life  than  that  of  one  of  your  other  children? 
Indeed,  if  one  must  die  because  there  are  too  many, 
there  are  several  reasons  why  one  of  those  already 
born  should  be  sacrificed  instead  of  the  one  unborn. 
Your  other  children  you  are  acquainted  with.  Some 
of  them  have  serious  faults.  None  of  them  have  very 
marked  mental  ability  or  give  very  great  promise  of 
becoming  specially  useful  in  the  world.  This  one  that 
is  unborn  may,  for  aught  you  know,  be  destined  to  a 
career  of  wonderful  usefulness.  It  may  be  a  genius, 
endowed  with  most  remarkable  gifts.  It  may  be  a  dis- 
coverer of  some  new  truth  or  new  principle,  which 
will  be  of  great  service  to  the  world.  It  may  be  of  all 
your  children  the  most  talented  and  the  most  lovable, 
and  in  every  way  the  most  desirable.  Again,  you  can- 
not destroy  the  life  of  this  innocent  child  whom  you 
have  never  seen,  without  endangering  your  own  life 


560  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

as  well,  and  certainly  not  without  incurring  the  risk 
of  lifelong  suffering  and  disease.  This  could  all  be 
avoided  by  the  sacrifice  of  a  child  already  born." 

"But  that  would  be  too  horrible!  To  think  of  tak- 
ing one  of  my  little  boys  and  cutting  his  throat,  or 
throwing  him  into  the  river!  I  could  not  do  such  a 
wicked  thing." 

''The  act  would  be  in  no  sense  more  wicked  than 
what  you  have  come  here  to  request  me  to  do  for  you. 
Certainly,  you  do  not  think  that  I  advise  you  to  take 
the  life  of  one  of  your  little  children.  I  only  wish  to 
present  the  subject  to  you  in  such  a  light  that  you  will 
see  the  enormity  of  the  crime  which  in  your  heart  you 
have  proposed  to  commit.  My  most  earnest  advice  to 
you  is  that  you  put  such  thoughts  far  from  your  mind, 
and  endeavor  to  make  the  best  of  your  present  cir- 
cumstances. Employ  all  such  means  as  will  build  up 
your  health,  fortify  yourself  for  the  ordeal  through 
which  you  must  pass,  and  conduce  in  every  way  to 
the  development  of  a  vigorous  and  healthy  child." 

The  woman  left  our  office  defeated,  but  not  wholly 
restored  to  moral  sanity.  She  continued  to  bemoan 
her  condition,  and  allowed  her  heart  to  be  filled  with 
enmity  against  the  innocent  being  that  was  in  no  way 
responsible  for  her  afflictions.  So  far  as  we  know, 
however,  no  active  measures  were  taken  to  produce 
abortion.  The  mother  dragged  out  a  miserable  exist- 
ence for  several  months,  and  finally  gave  birth  to  a 
puny  infant,  which  barely  survived  the  perils  of  par- 
turition, and  came  into  the  world  the  most  wretched 
of  all  human  beings,  "an  unwelcome  child."  In  a  few 
weeks  it  became  emaciated  to  an  extent  almost  beyond 
belief,  with  not  one  particle  of  fatty  tissue  remaining 
to  give  to  its  body  the  plumpness  and  roundness  natu- 


A   CHAPTER   FOR   MARRIED    PEOPLE  561 

ral  to  this  period  of  life.  The  eyes  were  sunken  back 
in  their  sockets,  the  cheeks  fallen  in,  the  nose  pinched, 
and  the  whole  countenance  presented  the  appearance 
of  infirm  old  age,  just  upon  the  verge  of  the  grave, 
from  consumption.  The  fingers  resembled  most  those 
of  a  skeleton.  Horrible  sores  began  to  make  their 
appearance,  first  on  the  hands,  then  about  the  head 
and  eyes.  The  bones  began  to  decay  and  drop  out 
one  by  one,  and  yet  the  poor  little  creature  clung  to 
life  week  after  week,  becoming  more  wretched  and 
miserable,  a  constant  moaning  and  crying  day  and 
night  indicating  the  intense  suffering  which  it  endured. 
Horrible  spasms  now  and  then  deprived  it  of  the 
power  to  breathe.  Again  and  again  the  mother 
thought  it  was  dying,  and  even  dead,  but  still  it  sur- 
vived month  after  month,  lingering  on,  literally  a  liv- 
ing, breathing  putrefying  corpse.  During  all  these 
days  and  weeks  and  months  of  weary  watching,  day 
and  night,  what  must  have  been  the  mother 's  regrets ! 
What  pangs  of  bitter  self-reproach,  and  what  remorse 
of  conscience  must  have  burned  in  her  heart,  as  dur- 
ing the  long  night  watches  she  sat  beside  her  dying 
babe,  and  listened  to  its  piteous  moans ! 

And  still  the  wretched  infant  lingered.  Its  little 
flickering  flame  of  life  burned  faintly  on  for  many 
months.  The  mother  nursed  it  day  and  night,  dress- 
ing its  festering  sores  and  soothing  its  feeble  cries. 
But  vain  was  her  effort  to  undo  the  wrong  she  had 
done  her  little  one.  Let  us  hope  that  by  genuine  re- 
pentance and  the  many  months  of  faithful  and  patient 
watching,  she  has  made  a  full  atonement  for  her  sin. 

The  Remedy.— Wliether  this  gigantic  evil  can  ever 
be  eradicated  is  exceedingly  doubtful.  To  effect  its 
cure  would  be  to  make  refined  Christians  out  of  brutal 


562  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND   YOUNG 

sensualists,  to  emancipate  woman  from  the  enticing, 
alluring  slavery  of  fashion,  to  uproot  false  ideas  of 
life  and  its  duties,  — in  short,  to  revolutionize  society. 
The  crime  is  perpetrated  in  secret.  Many  times  no 
one  but  the  criminal  herself  is  cognizant  of  the  evil 
deed.  Only  occasionally  do  cases  come  near  enough 
to  the  surface  to  be  dimly  discernible;  hence  the  evi- 
dent inefficiency  of  any  civil  legislation.  But  the  evil 
is  a  desperate  one,  and  is  increasing;  shall  no  attempt 
be  made  to  check  the  tide  of  crime  and  save  the  perpe- 
trators from  both  physical  and  spiritual  perdition"? 
An  effort  should  be  made,  at  least.  Let  every  Chris- 
tian raise  the  note  of  warning.  From  every  Christian 
pulpit  let  the  truth  be  spoken  in  terms  too  plain  for 
misapprehension.  Let  those  who  are  known  to  be 
guilty  of  this  most  revolting  crime  be  looked  upon  as 
murderers,  which  they  are;  and  let  their  real  moral 
status  be  distinctly  shown. 

All  these  means  will  do  something  to  effect  a  re- 
form; but  the  radical  cure  of  the  evil  will  only  be 
found  in  the  principles  suggested  in  the  section  devoted 
to  the  consideration  of  ''Marital  Excesses."  The 
adojDtion  of  those  principles  and  strict  adherence  to 
them  would  effectually  prevent  the  occurrence  of  cir- 
cumstances which  are  the  occasion  of  abortions  and 
infanticides. 

Murder  by  Proxy.— "There  is,  at  the  present  time, 
a  kind  of  infanticide,  which,  although  it  is  not  so  well 
known,  is  even  more  dangerous,  because  done  with 
impunity.  There  are  parents  who  recoil  with  horror 
at  the  idea  of  destroying  their  offspring,  although  they 
would  greatly  desire  to  be  disembarrassed  of  them, 
yet  place  them  without  remorse  with  nurses  who  en- 
joy the  sinister  reputation  of  never  returning  the  chil- 


A    CHAPTER   FOR   MARRIED   PEOPLE  563 

dren  to  those  who  intrusted  them  to  their  care.  These 
unfortunate  little  beings  are  condemned  to  perish  from 
inanition  and  bad  treatment. 

"The  number  of  these  innocent  victims  is  greater 
than  would  be  imagined,  and  very  certainly  exceeds 
that  of  the  marked  infanticides  sent  by  the  public  pros- 
ecutor to  the  court  of  the  assizes." 


DISEASES  PECULIAR  TO  WOMEN 


CAUSES  OF  DISEASE  AMONG  WOMEN. - 
The  great  prevalence  of  diseases  peculiar  to 
the  sex  among  American  women,  is  a  matter 
of  remark  by  medical  authors.  The  women  of  Euro- 
pean countries  are  far  less  subject  to  these  maladies 
than  are  American  women,  but  yet  they  are  more  or  less 
prevalent  among  all  civilized  people.  Among  the  prin- 
cipal causes  to  which  this  state  of  things  is  attributable, 
the  following  may  be  enumerated: 

1.  Carelessness  at  Menstruation.— 'i:^eglect  to  care 
properly  for  themselves  at  the  menstrual  period,  either 
through  carelessness  or  ignorance  of  the  consequences, 
is  probably  one  of  the  most  common  causes  of  uterine 
or  ovarian  disorders.  Neglects  of  this  kind  are  most 
likely  to  occur,  and  are  most  harmful,  during  the  first 
two  or  three  years  after  the  beginning  of  the  men- 
strual period. 

2.  Sexual  sins,  in  the  form  of  self -abuse  in  the  un- 
married and  excesses  in  the  married,  and  prolonged 
excitement  from  erotic  thoughts  in  both  classes,  are 
unmistakably  a  frequent  cause  of  ovarian  and  uterine 
diseases. 

3.  Neglect  of  the  Bowels.— Constipation  is  a  preva- 
lent disorder  among  women.  It  is  sometimes  the  re- 
sult of  improper  diet  and  sedentary  habits,  but  is  quite 
as  frequently  the  effect  of  neglecting  to  evacuate  the 
bowels  at  a  regular  hour  each  day,  which  is  essential 
to  proper  and  regular  action.    Constipation  gives  ri^^a 

564 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  565 

to  congestion  of  the  pelvic  organs;  and  the  violent 
efforts  necessary  to  expel  the  hardened  contents  of  the 
bowels,  force  the  womb  and  ovaries  out  of  position, 
straining  the  ligaments  and  other  structures  by  which 
they  are  held  in  position,  and  causing  intense  conges- 
tion by  the  prolonged  straining  efforts. 

4.  Excessive  Use  of  Drugs.— This  must  also  be 
set  down  as  a  frequent  cause  of  disease  in  women, 
though  not  always  of  local  disorders.  After-dinner 
pills,  liver  regulators,  laxatives,  etc.,  frequently  oper- 
ate in  an  injurious  manner  upon  the  pelvic  viscera. 

5.  Errors  in  Dress.— Tight-lacing,  the  wearing  of 
heavy  skirts  about  the  waist,  neglect  to  properly  clothe 
the  limbs,  the  wearing  of  high-heeled  shoes,— these 
and  other  errors  in  dress  common  among  American 
women,  are  responsible  for  a  large  share  of  the  weak 
backs  and  other  evidences  of  local  disease  of  which 
women  complain. 

The  importance  of  woman's  dress  has  excited  so 
much  interest  of  late  that  it  might  not  be  out  of  place  to 
give  to  its  consideration  at  this  point,  a  larger  amount 
of  space  than  under  ordinary  circumstances  would  be 
admissible.  A  writer  in  the  North  American  Revieiv 
took  up  the  cudgel  in  defense  of  what  the  majority  of 
intelligent  physicians  consider  to  be  the  most  objec- 
tionable features  of  fashionable  dress.  As  the  profes- 
sion and  reputation  of  the  writer  referred  to  are  such 
that  much  harm  may  be  done  by  the  sophistical  argu- 
ments which  he  presents  upon  the  subject,  it  may  be 
profitable  to  devote  a  little  time  to  their  consideration, 
though  their  real  weight  is  so  slight  that  if  they  had 
been  produced  by  an  obscure  individual,  they  would 
certainly  not  be  worthy  a  moment's  consideration. 
This  champion  of  fashion  writes  as  follows: 


566  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

"Without  going  into  the  consideration  of  the  dress 
of  women  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  it  will  be  suffi- 
cient if  I  confine  what  I  have  to  say  on  the  subject  to 
their  apparel  as  worn  at  the  present  day.  But  it  is 
an  important  fact  that  in  the  earlier  periods  of  the 
history  of  the  human  race,  there  were  no  essential 
points  of  difference  in  the  dress  of  the  two  sexes,  ex- 
cept, perhaps,  in  the  way  of  wearing  the  hair.  Roman 
men  and  women,  for  instance,  wore  nearly  the  same 
kind  of  external  garments.  A  plate  in  Planche's  'His- 
tory of  Costume'  represents  a  group  of  Anglo-Saxon 
men  and  women  of  the  tenth  century,  and  it  is  difficult, 
if  not  impossible,  to  tell  which  of  the  figures  represent 
men  and  which  women.  The  traditional  fig-leaf  was 
the  same  for  both  sexes,  and  from  it  were  evolved 
skirts  that  varied  but  little  in  shape  and  general  ap- 
pearance, whether  they  concealed  the  nakedness  of  a 
man  or  that  of  a  woman.  The  differences  that  now 
exist  have  been  caused  mainly  by  the  revolt  of  man 
from  the  inconvenience  of  long  skirts,  and  the  assump- 
tion by  him  of  a  separate  covering  for  each  leg.  What 
he  has  gained  in  the  facility  with  which  he  can  run, 
leap,  climb  trees,  straddle  a  horse,  row  a  boat,  and  do 
the  many  other  things  that  his  occupations  require  of 
him,  he  has  certainly  lost  in  grace  and  elegance.  Trou- 
sers are  of  oriental  origin,  and  in  the  form  of  breeches 
were  worn  by  the  ancient  Gauls  and  Britons.  They 
went  out  of  fashion,  however,  soon  after  the  occupa- 
tion by  the  Romans,  and  the  gown  took  their  place,  or 
rather  reacquired  its  place,  for  both  sexes. 

''So  far  as  I  know,  the  wearing  of  trousers  by 
women  is  a  mere  matter  of  convenience  and  esthetics 
that  they  are  perfectly  competent  to  settle  for  them- 
selves, and  that  they  certainly  will  decide  without  in- 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  567 

terference  from  the  other  sex.  It  is  not  a  question  into 
which  sanitation  enters.  There  are  no  statistics  to 
show  that  the  partial  exposure  of  the  lower  extremities 
to  the  atmosphere,  which  more  or  less  attends  upon 
the  absence  of  trousers,  leads  to  greater  ill-health  or 
mortality  than  when  they  are  more  securely  covered 
with  trousers.  Eheumatism,  sciatica,  hip-joint  disease, 
white-swelling,  neuralgia,  etc.,  are  more  common  in 
men  than  they  are  in  women.  It  is  true  that  women 
sometimes  wear  drawers  in  winter,  but  they  are  in 
general  a  poor  protection  in  themselves  compared  with 
the  close-fitting  woolen  drawers  of  men,  and  the  super- 
imposed trousers  of  even  more  compact  material.  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  however,  women  endure  cold  weather 
as  well  as  do  men,  not  because  they  are  more  warmly 
clad,  but  because,  owing  to  the  flowing  character  of 
their  garments,  and  the  fact  that  they  are  not  in  close 
contact  with  the  lower  part  of  the  body,  a  stratum  of 
air  exists  between  them  and  the  skin,  and  this,  being 
a  good  non-conductor  of  heat,  prevents  the  rapid  cool- 
ing of  the  surface  that  would  otherwise  take  place. 
It  acts  just  as  does  the  two  or  three  inches  thickness 
of  air  when  double  windows  are  put  into  a  house." 

A  Muddled  Professor  — What  a  pity  that  the  dis- 
covery that  loose  skirts  are  warmer  for  the  legs  than 
closely  fitting  garments,  should  have  been  made  at  so 
late  a  day  as  this!  What  an  amount  of  earnest  talk 
has  been  wasted!  How  the  advocates  of  dress  reform 
have  waxed  warm  in  condemning  the  prevailing  style 
in  women's  dress,  on  the  ground  that  the  circulation 
is  disturbed  by  the  exposure  of  the  limbs  to  chilling  by 

the  loose  skirts,  which  Dr.  has  discovered  are 

much  warmer  than  drawers  or  pantaloons!  As  most 
of  the  agitators  of  the  dress  reform  question  have  been 


568  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

women,  this  discovery  certainly  suggests  a  sad  want 
of  acumen  on  the  part  of  the  fair  sex,  that  they  should 
have  failed  to  make  the  discovery  themselves,  though 
having  had  an  opportunity  for  practical  experimen- 
tation which  it  is  hardly  supposable  that  Dr. has 

had.  It  certainly  requires  the  highest  kind  of  genius 
to  be  able  to  rise  above  the  necessity  for  the  observa- 
tion of  facts  to  which  vulgar  minds  are  subjected,  and 
this  remarkable  discovery  of  the  eminent  Professor 
affords  another  illustration  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished by  a  skilful  use  of  the  ''scientific  imagination." 
The  Professor's  reasoning  makes  it  very  clear  that 
poor  masculine  humanity  has  been  for  some  centuries 
back  abused  in  a  gross  and  cruel  manner,  and  that 
science  demands  that  the  doctors  should  preach  a  cru- 
sade against  pantaloons,  and  insist  that  men  shall 
meekly  submit  to  a  reinstatement  of  the  reign  of  the 
petticoat.  Now  that  we  are  fully  awakened  to  the  ex- 
posures and  dangers  involved  in  the  wearing  of  panta- 
loons, it  is  a  matter  of  amazement  that  the  unhappy 
male  biped  who  has  been  subjected  to  such  a  barbarous 
costume,  has  not  been  quite  exterminated  by  this  dread- 
ful abuse  of  his  nether  extremities. 

Personally,  we  have  never  had  any  experience  in 
petticoats;  but  when  we  have  seen  a  woman  battling 
her  way  along  the  street  against  a  December  wind,  with 
her  dress  skirts  whipping  about  like  sails,  and  the 
frosty  air  making  small  cyclones  around  her  limbs 
protected  only  by  cotton  stockings  and  thin  drawers, 
our  unscientific  imagination  has  somehow  become  im- 
pressed with  the  idea  that  the  biped  in  pantaloons  on 
the  other  side  of  the  street  has  a  great  advantage  in 
point  of  warmth  as  well  as  convenience,  notwithstand- 
ing the  lack  of  "esthetic"  qualities  in  his  dress.     It 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  569 

might  appear  to  some  persons  of  meager  intellectual 
endowments,  and  not  gifted  witli  "scientific  imagina- 
tions, ' '  that  women  endure  the  cold  season  of  the  year 
as  well  as  men,  not  because  their  skirts  afford  them 
better  protection,  but  because  they  are  less  exposed  to 
the  inclemencies  of  the  season,  their  occupations  being 
indoors. 

The  Professor  continues:  ''But  as  the  occupations 
of  women  are  gradually  becoming  identical  with  those 
of  men,  it  appears  to  be  desirable,  on  the  score  of  con- 
venience, that  they  should  wear  trousers,  even  at  the 
sacrifice  of  warmth  and  beauty.  A  woman  command- 
ing a  steamboat  would  certainly  be  more  efficient  in 
trousers  than  in  long  skirts.  A  saleswoman  in  a  shop 
would  do  her  work  with  more  comfort  to  herself,  and 
more  to  the  satisfaction  of  her  employer,  if  she  were 
disencumbered  of  the  gown  and  petticoats  that  pre- 
vent her  from  climbing  step-ladders  to  get  down  goods, 
or  jumping  over  the  counter,  like  her  male  rival.  Even 
as  a  physician,  or  as  a  nurse  in  a  hospital,  she  would 
more  effectually  perform  her  work  if  she  wore  trou- 
sers, and  thus  had  more  freedom  in  the  motions  of  her 
lower  limbs.  A  woman  surgeon,  for  instance,  called 
upon  to  reduce  a  dislocation  of  the  shoulder- joint, 
would  find  skirts  very  greatly  incommodious  when  she 
came  to  put  her  heel  into  the  axilla  of  the  patient  in 
order  to  obtain  the  necessary  fixed  point  to  counter- 
act the  effects  of  her  traction.  Besides,  the  flowing 
drapery  worn  by  the  woman  physician  and  nurse  is 
more  apt  to  absorb  contagion  than  the  closely  fitting 
trousers  of  man,  and  hence  renders  them  carriers  of 
disease  from  house  to  house,  or  from  person  to  person. 

''If  I  had  the  determination  of  the  question,  I 
should  prescribe  trousers  for  all  women  that  do  man- 


570  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND   YOUNG 

ual  labor,  except  such  as  is  of  a  purely  ornamental 
character, — embroidery,  crocheting,  etc.,— and  such  as 
is  strictly  confined  to  the  use  of  the  hands,  without  the 
legs  being  necessarily  brought  into  use,— sewing,  knit- 
ting, writing,  painting,  etc.  The  sewing-machine 
should  never  be  worked  by  a  woman  in  skirts.  The 
gown  and  petticoats  I  would  reserve  exclusively  for 
women  embraced  in  the  above-named  exceptions,  and 
for  those  whose  office  in  society  is  to  be  ornamental 
and  useful  in  the  various  social  relations  of  life.  Cer- 
tainly a  great  deal  of  the  esthetics  of  a  drawing-room, 
a  ball-room,  or  a  dinner-table  would  be  lost  if  the 
women  who  attend  them  wore  trousers  instead  of  the 
silk,  satin,  and  velvet  gowns  that  now  add  so  much  to 
their  loveliness.  I  can  quite  conceive  that  a  man  thor- 
oughly imbued  with  the  prejudices  received  from  a 
biased  education,  indisposed  to  accept  new  ideas,  and 
deeply  endowed  with  a  love  for  the  beautiful,  might 
be  reluctant  to  pay  his  addresses  with  a  view  to  matri- 
mony to  a  woman  wearing  trousers.  Still,  under  the 
influence  of  familiarity  with  the  idea  of  a  change  in 
the  nether  garments  of  the  sex,  and  especially  if  they 
be  generally  adopted  by  pretty  women,  it  might  rea- 
sonably be  expected  that  a  change  of  opinion  and  emo- 
-  tion  would  ensue,  and  that  perhaps  in  time  he  might 
even  be  brought  to  regard  trousers  as  filling  more  com- 
pletely his  idea  of  the  beautiful  than  do  skirts  at  the 
present  day." 

Our  author  is  afraid  that  the  ball-room  and  the 
dinner-table  will  lose  some  of  their  "esthetics"  if 
women  should  jDut  on  trousers;  but  he  at  once  admits 
that  the  ''esthetics"  of  the  dress  question  is  wholly  a 
matter  of  habit,  and  may  be  completely  reversed  if 
sufficient  time  is  allowed.    He  continues: 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  571 

''There  is  another  point  that  requires  considera- 
tion, and  that  is  the  practice  of  wearing  the  gown  cut 
low  in  the  neck,  so  as  to  expose  the  breast,  and  with- 
out covering  for  the  arms.  It  is  doubtful  if  this  leads 
to  any  ill  consequences.  It  has  been  continued  for 
many  generations  without  apparent  injury.  It  might 
be  supposed,  at  first  thought,  that  bronchitis,  pleurisy, 
pneumonia,  and  many  kinds  of  rheumatism  and  neu- 
ralgia would  be  the  result  of  the  custom;  but  such  is 
really  not  the  case,  all  these  affections  being  much  more 
frequently  met  with  in  men  who  cover  the  chest  and 
arms  with  several  thicknesses  of  woolen  material  in 
addition  to  a  shirt  of  linen  or  cotton." 

Our  learned  author  evidently  delights  in  paradox- 
ies.  He  gravely  says,  "There  is  another  point  that 
requires  consideration,"  referring  to  the  practice  of 
exposing  the  arms  and  chest,  formerly  more  fashion- 
able than  at  the  present  time.  One  certainly  would 
expect  to  hear  at  least  some  word  of  condemnation  of 
this  fashion,  the  unliealthf ulness  of  which  has  been  too 
frequently  demonstrated  by  those  addicted  to  it,  to 
require  the  dictum  of  a  learned  doctor  either  for  or 
against  it.  Indeed,  the  Professor  himself  seems  to 
recognize  the  apparent  weakness  of  his  defense  of  this 
most  absurd  of  fashionable  follies,  since  he  remarks, 
*'It  might  be  supposed  at  first  thought,"  etc.,  but  gives 
no  substantial  reason  why  it  might  not  also  be  sup- 
posed at  second  thought,  especially  since  the  same 
statistics  which  show  man  to  be  the  greatest  sufferer 
from  bronchitis,  pneumonia,  etc.,  as  the  result  of  his 
greater  exposure  to  the  weather,  show  that  consump- 
tion, a  disease  which  kills  vastly  more  than  all  the 
maladies  named,  finds  by  far  the  greatest  percentage 
of  its  victims  among  women.     It  is  certainly  a  mar- 

34 


572  PLAIN    PACTS    FOE    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

velous  exhibition  of  legerdemain  in  logic  by  which  the 
Professor  at  one  moment  advocates  the  wearing  of 
skirts  and  petticoats  on  the  score  of  warmth  for  the 
limbs,  and  the  next  insists  that  for  the  other  extremity 
of  the  body,  which  is  certainly  much  more  closely  re- 
lated to  the  organs  of  greatest  importance  in  the  vital 
economy,  no  clothing  whatever  is  needed. 

''It  has  been  strenuously  urged  by  many  so-called 
sanitary  reformers,  that  women  should  support  their 
skirts  by  straps  passing  over  the  shoulders,  and  some 
few  have  been  induced  to  adopt  the  method.  It  is  to 
be  hoped  that  it  will  not  spread.  A  woman's  hips  are 
proportionallj^  wider  than  those  of  a  man,  and  there 
is  no  better  way  of  keeping  up  the  many  petticoats 
that  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  wear,  than  by  fasten- 
ing them  with  strings  or  bands  around  the  waist,  over 
the  corset.  Shoulder-straps  hinder  the  movements  of 
the  chest,  and  tend  to  make  those  who  wear  them 
round-shouldered.  Besides,  they  could  not  well  be  worn 
with  a  low-necked  dress.  Even  if  trousers  should  come 
into  general  use  for  women,  it  would  be  better  that 
they  should  be  kept  up  by  the  support  of  the  hips  than 
by  suspenders  passing  over  the  shoulders.  It  is  true 
that  many  men  wear  suspenders,  and  this  fact  may 
perhaps  lead  to  their  adoption  by  some  women;  but 
again  no  inconsiderable  number  of  the  male  sex  sup- 
port their  trousers  from  the  hips.  If  comparatively 
narrow-hipped  man  can  do  this,  wide-hipped  woman 
ought  to  be  able  to  do  it  better." 

This  paragraph  certainly  reads  like  the  ingenious 
advertisement  of  a  fashionable  modiste,  prepared  after 
the  style  of  the  latest  pattern  of  quack  medicine  adver- 
tisements. The  Doctor  speaks  as  one  in  authority 
when  he  says,  "There  is  no  better  way,"  etc.    Did  he 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  573 

ever  try  the  experiment?  We  know  of  some  hundreds 
of  intelligent  women  who  have  tried  the  experiment 
of  changing  the  weight  of  the  clothing  from  the  waist 
to  the  shoulders,  and  we  do  not  know  of  a  single  in- 
stance in  which  the  experimenter  has  been  willing  to 
return  to  the  old  style  of  dressing,  after  shoulder-straps 
had  been  adopted.  Suppose  the  Doctor  should  try  the 
experiment  himself  once.  Let  him  supply  himself  with 
a  fashionable  corset,  now  button  his  pantaloons  tightly 
around  his  waist,  and  fill  his  pockets  with  buck  shot  or 
twenty-dollar  gold  pieces,  and  start  off  for  a  ten-mile 
tramp.  If  he  doesn't  complain  of  a  dragging  pain  in 
the  lower  bowels  and  an  insupportable  backache  before 
he  gets  around  home,  it  will  be  because  he  hails  the 
first  cab,  and  takes  the  journey  on  wheels. 

^'Shoulder-straps  hinder  the  movements  of  the 
chest,  and  tend  to  make  the  wearer  round-shouldered. ' ' 
Undoubtedly  this  is  true  if  ' '  many  petticoats ' '  are  sus- 
pended from  them;  but  what  intelligent  woman  who 
has  undertaken  to  reform  her  dress  does  not  know  that 
"many  petticoats"  are  never,  instead  of  "sometimes, 
necessary."  But  here  is  the  real  argument:  "Besides, 
they  could  not  well  be  worn  with  a  low-necked  dress." 
Certainly  not.  A  strip  of  red,  white,  or  striped  web- 
bing striking  straight  down  across  a  broad,  bare  space 
of  pink  and  white  immodesty,  would  destroy  a  "great 
deal  of  esthetics." 

But  did  it  ever  occur  to  our  learned  authority  that 
corsets  may  "hinder  the  movements  of  the  chest,  and 
tend  to  make  those  who  wear  them"  narrow-waistedf 
It  is  true,  women  have  wider  hips  than  men,  but  this 
anatomical  peculiarity  is  given  to  women  for  quite 
another  purpose  than  to  hang  either  trousers  or  petti- 
coats on.     The  Italian  farmer  works  tne  cow  as  well 


574  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

as  the  ox  before  the  cart  or  plow.  What  would  even 
Dr. say  if  he  should  find  one  of  these  old-fash- 
ioned agriculturists  adjusting  a  yoke  around  the  middle 
of  his  female  bovine,  because  her  hips  happened  to 
be  a  little  wider  than  those  of  her  broad-shouldered 
brother  ? 

'^A  good  deal  more  might  be  said  in  regard  to 
hats,  shoes,  and  stockings.  But  as  I  remarked  in  the 
beginning,  women  will  settle  all  the  questions  of  dress 
for  themselves.  There  is  no  evidence  to  show  that  in 
this  respect  men  have  ever  interfered  with  them;  and 
if  they  should  presume  to  make  the  attempt,  it  is  not 
at  all  likely  that  their  advice  would  be  heeded. ' ' 

We  are  able  at  last  to  find  one  sentiment  with  which 
we  can  quite  agree.  Women  are  settling  this  question 
of  dress  for  themselves,  and  are  perfectly  competent 
to  do  so,  and  it  is  certainly  to  be  hoped  that  they  will 
not  allow  fashion-blinded  men,  even  though  they  may 
be  backed  by  the  prestige  of  a  world-wide  reputa- 
tion in  some  specialty,  to  interfere  with  their  attempts 
to  rescue  their  sisters  from  the  most  thralling  slavery 
of  modern  times,— fashionable  dress. 

The  influence  of  dress  in  producing  disease  in 
women  is  so  important  and  far-reaching  in  its  conse- 
quences, that  we  feel  it  not  out  of  place  to  devote  some 
additional  space  to  the  consideration  of  this  question. 

First  of  all,  attention  is  invited  to  the  normal  posi- 
tion of  the  organs  of  the  trunk.  By  referring  to  the 
colored  chart,  it  will  be  noted  that  the  liver,  spleen, 
pancreas,  and  stomach  are  all  located  above  or  at  the 
waist.  The  transverse  colon  lies  at  the  waist  line. 
The  kidneys  lie  just  at  the  waist.  The  greater  portion 
of  the  space  below  the  waist  is  occupied  by  the  small 
intestines,  the  bladder,  and  the  rectum,  with  the  uterus 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  577 

and  its  appendages  in  the  female,  and  the  prostate 
gland  and  other  special  structures  in  the  male.  It  is 
noticeable  that  the  organs  of  the  greatest  weight  and 
functional  importance  are  located  at  or  above  the 
waist. 

How  are  all  these  important  organs  held  in  posi- 
tion! Although  fitted  together  with  the  nicety  of  an 
articulation,  the  viscera  are  certainly  not  held  together 
by  anything  corresponding  to  the  firm  ligamentous 
bands  which  unite  the  osseous  elements  of  a  joint.  The 
so-called  ligaments  which  hold  in  place  the  liver,  stom- 
ach, spleen,  and  bowels,  cannot  properly  be  called  liga- 
ments, as  very  little  ligamentous  structure  enters  into 
their  composition.  The  same  must  be  said  of  the  liga- 
ments which  are  supposed  to  support  in  place  the 
uterus  and  ovaries,  although  it  must  be  added  that 
some  of  the  uterine  ligaments  contain  muscular  tissues 
which  play  a  very  important  part  in  maintaining  the 
uterus  in  its  proper  relation  to  the  trunk  and  the  con- 
tiguous organs.  The  idea  is  gaining  ground  among 
those  who  have  made  a  special  study  of  this  subject, 
that  the  chief  factor  in  the  support  of  the  pelvic  vis- 
cera, as  well  as  other  of  the  organs  of  the  lower  trunk 
cavity,  is  the  muscular  walls  of  the  abdomen. 

Compression  of  the  waist  necessarily  involves  dis- 
placement of  the  organs  occupying  this  portion  of  the 
trunk.  The  unyielding  character  of  the  chest  walls, 
and  the  resistance  of  the  diaphragm  prevent  any  con- 
siderable displacement  in  an  upward  direction.  Con- 
sequently, the  necessary  result  of  waist-compression, 
either  by  the  corset  or  by  tight  bands,  is,  that  the  liver, 
stomach,  bowels,  and  other  organs  occupying  this  zone 
of  the  body,  are  carried  downward.  The  same  com- 
pressing force  which  diminishes  the  circumference  of 


578  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

the  body  at  the  waist,  interferes  with  the  normal  activ- 
ity and  development  of  the  muscles  which  form  the 
anterior  wall  of  the  lower  trunk,  so  that  they  offer  little 
resistance  to  the  displacing  force  applied  at  the  waist. 

In  twenty  years  of  medical  practice,  we  have  had 
to  deal  almost  exclusively  with  chronic  disorders  of 
various  sorts,  and  especially  with  two  classes  of  chronic 
disease,— digestive  disorders,  and  maladies  peculiar 
to  women.  Having  under  observation  from  1,000  to 
1,500  cases  annually,  in  conditions  favorable  for  care- 
ful study  and  comparison,  we  long  ago  noticed  the 
remarkable  frequency  of  the  association  of  certain 
forms  of  pelvic  disorder  (especially  in  women)  with  a 
narrow  waist  and  a  protruding  abdomen.  We  did  not, 
however,  attach  so  great  importance  to  the  matter  as 
we  should  have  done,  because  we  had  an  erroneous 
notion  respecting  the  normal  contour  of  the  female 
figure.  It  was  only  after  careful  study  of  this  matter 
among  savage  women,  and  women  whose  figures  had 
never  been  modified  by  the  deforming  influence  of  the 
ordinary  civilized  dress,  that  we  acquired  a  basis  from 
which  to  view  this  subject  in  a  rational  way.  We  then 
began  careful  inquiry  into  the  matter,  and  for  several 
years  back  have  made,  in  all  cases  of  pelvic  disease  of 
women  coming  under  my  observation,  a  careful  study 
of  the  condition  and  relative  position  of  the  various 
abdominal  viscera,  as  well  as  of  the  pelvic  organs. 

In  250  cases  of  women  suffering  from  pelvic  dis- 
eases, taken  consecutively  and  without  selection,  in 
each  of  which  a  careful  examination  was  made  with 
reference  to  the  condition  and  position  of  each  of  the 
abdominal  viscera  as  well  as  of  the  pelvic  organs,  we 
observed  the  following  disturbances  of  the  static  re- 
lations of  the  viscera: 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  579 

In  232  cases,  downward  displacement  of  stomach 
and  bowels. 

In  seventy-one  cases,  right  kidney  distinctly  mova- 
ble and  sensitive  to  pressure. 

In  six  cases,  both  kidneys  freely  movable. 

In  nine  cases,  downward  displacement  of  the  spleen. 

How  a  displacement  of  the  stomach,  a  kidney,  the 
bowels,  the  uterus,  or  an  ovary,  may  occasion  disease, 
is  a  pathological  question  which  it  is  not  necessary  to 
spend  time  in  discussing,  since  the  disturbance  in  blood- 
circulation,  and  hence  in  nutritive  changes  (possibly, 
also,  in  the  supply  of  nervous  energy),  and  the  devel- 
opment of  abnormal  and  pernicious  nerve-reflexes,  are 
etiological  factors,  the  influence  of  which  is  too  well 
known  and  understood  to  be  disputed,  and  which  are 
likely  to  come  into  active  operation  under  the  morbid 
conditions  established  in  an  organ  crowded  by  abnor- 
mal pressure  out  of  its  proper  place.  Nature  has 
placed  each  internal  organ  in  the  position  in  which  it 
can  do  its  work  most  easily  and  efficiently;  and  the 
studies  of  the  results  of  visceral  displacement  which 
have  been  made  by  eminent  scientific  physicians,  have 
shown  that  to  morbid  conditions  of  this  sort  may  be 
fairly  attributable  the  most  serious,  and  not  infre- 
quently the  most  obstinate,  disturbances  of  some  of 
the  most  important  vital  functions,  and  through  them, 
of  all  the  other  functions  of  the  body. 

The  question  may  arise,  whether  we  are  treating 
the  subject  fairly,  in  charging  upon  errors  in  dress, 
so  great  and  so  serious  modifications  of  the  human 
form  as  we  have  pointed  out,  and  whether  it  is  not 
possible  that  visceral  displacements  in  some  of  those 
cases  to  which  we  have  called  attention  are  to  be  found 
in  men  as  well  as  in  women.    In  order  to  place  this 


580  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

subject  upon  a  rational  basis,  we  recently  made  a  care- 
ful examination  respecting  the  position  of  the  stomach, 
liver,  and  bowels  in  fifty  working  men  and  seventy-one 
working  women,  all  of  whom  were  in  ordinary  health. 

Of  the  seventy-one  women  examined,  prolapsus  of 
the  stomach  and  bowels  was  found  in  fifty-six  cases. 
In  nineteen  of  these  cases,  the  right  kidney  was  found 
prolapsed,  and  in  one' case,  both  kidneys.  The  fifteen 
cases  in  which  the  stomach  and  bowels  were  not  pro- 
lapsed were  all  persons  under  twenty-four  years  of 
age.  None  of  these  had  ever  laced  tightly,  and  four 
had  never  worn  corsets  or  tight  waistbands,  having 
always  worn  clothing  suspended  from  the  shoulders. 
It  is  noticeable  that  in  a  number  of  cases  in  which  cor- 
sets had  never  been  worn,  tight  waistbands  had  pro- 
duced very  extensive  displacement  of  the  stomach, 
bowels,  and  kidneys.  In  one  of  these  the  liver  was 
displaced  downward. 

In  the  fifty  men,  we  found  only  six  in  whom  the 
stomach  and  bowels  could  be  said  to  be  prolapsed.  In 
one  the  right  kidney  was  prolapsed.  In  only  three  was 
the  degree  of  prolapse  anything  at  all  comparable  with 
that  observed  in  the  women,  and  in  these  three  (and 
in  one  other  of  these  six  cases,  making  four  in  all)  it 
was  found  on  inquiry  that  a  belt  or  something  equiva- 
lent had  been  worn  in  three  cases,  as  a  means  of  sus- 
taining the  pantaloons.  In  one  case  the  patient  attrib- 
uted his  condition  to  the  wearing  of  a  truss  furnished 
with  a  belt  drawn  tightly  about  the  waist.  This  belt 
had  been  worn  a  sufficiently  long  time  to  be  an  ample 
cause  for  the  visceral  displacement  observed.  In  the 
two  cases  of  slight  visceral  prolapse  in  which  belts  had 
been  worn,  there  was  considerable  deformity  of  the 
figure  due  to  general  weakness,  and  a  habitual  standing 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  581 

with  the  weight  upon  one  foot.  By  comparison,  we 
see  that  the  relative  frequency  of  visceral  prolapse  in 
the  men  and  women  examined,  was  twelve  per  cent  of 
the  men,  and  eighty  per  cent  of  the  women.  In  other 
words,  visceral  prolapse  was  found  to  be  six  and  two- 
thirds  times  as  frequent  in  women  as  in  men.  It  is  also 
noticeable  that,  with  the  exception  of  two  cases,  the 
visceral  prolapse  in  the  men  was  due  to  the  same  cause 
which  caused  visceral  prolapse  in  women;  viz.,  con- 
striction of  the  waist.  It  makes  no  difference,  of  course, 
whether  the  constriction  is  applied  by  means  of  a  cor- 
set or  a  waistband  or  a  belt. 

We  have  met  a  number  of  cases  of  visceral  prolapse 
in  men  in  which  the  disease  was  directly  traceable  to 
the  wearing  of  a  belt.  One  case  was  that  of  a  military 
officer,  who  wore  a  tight  sword  belt,  in  which  he  car- 
ried almost  constantly  a  liea\'^'^  sword.  We  have  also 
made  some  observations  of  the  same  character  among 
blacksmiths,  who  have  a  habit  of  sustaining  their  pan- 
taloons b}^  means  of  the  strings  of  their  leather  aprons 
tied  tightly  about  the  waist,  the  suspenders  being  loos- 
ened so  as  to  give  greater  freedom  to  the  movements 
of  the  arms.  Farmers,  also,  sometimes  seek  to  liberate 
their  shoulders  by  wearing  the  suspenders  tied  about 
the  waist.  Leaving  out  of  consideration  the  four  cases 
of  men  in  whom  the  visceral  displacement  was  due  to 
the  same  causes  which  produce  this  morbid  condition 
in  women,  we  find  but  two  cases  in  which  the  viscera 
had  become  displaced  from  other  causes,  or  one  in 
twenty-five,— a  frequency  just  one-twentieth  of  that 
in  which  this  diseased  condition  is  found  in  women 
who  consider  themselves  enjoying  ordinary  health. 

These  facts  are  amply  sufficient  to  establish  the 
proposition  that  constriction  of  the  waist  is  the  cause 


582  x'LAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

of  downward  displacement  of  the  pelvic  viscera,  and 
of  the  diseases  which  naturally  grow  out  of  such  dis- 
turbances of  the  static  relations  of  the  organs  occupy- 
ing this  portion  of  the  trunk. 

Diseases  of  Women.— The  disorders  described  in 
this  section  are  some  of  the  most  common  to  which 
women  are  subject,  and  are  all  sufficiently  serious  to 
demand  special  attention  when  recognized.  We  have 
not  space  here  to  give  accurate  directions  for  the  re- 
quired treatment,  but  think  it  proper  to  describe  the 
several  maladies  named,  so  as  to  render  women  intelli- 
gent respecting  their  nature,  and  thus  induce  them  to 
take  prompt  steps  to  procure  proper  treatment.  In 
other  works  published  by  the  author,  simple  measures 
of  treatment,  such  as  can  be  used  safely  and  success- 
fully at  home,  are  carefully  and  fully  described. 

General  Suggestions.— We  may  add,  however,  the 
following  general  suggestions  respecting  the  treatment 
of  those  disorders,  which  are  applicable  to  nearly  all 
forms  of  diseases  peculiar  to  women: 

Nearly  all  forms  of  uterine  diseases  are  accom- 
panied by  more  or  less  congestion  of  the  womb  and 
ovaries.  There  is  pain  in  the  region  of  the  ovaries, 
across  the  lower  part  of  the  bowels,  in  the  back,  or  in 
other  parts  adjacent  to  the  sexual  organs.  Leucorrhea 
is  also  present  in  a  great  majority  of  cases.  For  the 
relief  of  these  various  symptoms,  there  is  no  one  meas- 
ure so  generally  applicable  and  capable  of  accomplish- 
ing so  much  as  the  hot  vaginal  douche.  This  consists 
of  the  injection  of  hot  water  into  the  vagina.  The 
water  should  be  as  hot  as  can  be  borne  without  dis- 
comfort, and  should  be  taken  in  considerable  quanti- 
ties. Not  less  than  one  gallon,  and  generally  two  or 
three  gallons,  should  be  employed  at  each  application. 


I 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  583 

The  best  means  of  administering  the  douche  is  by  a 
siphon  syringe.  The  treatment  should  be  taken  in  a 
horizontal  position. 

When  the  leucorrheal  discharge  is  very  abundant, 
and  is  not  relieved  by  the  persistent  use  of  hot  water, 
alum  or  tannin  may  be  added  to  the  last  portion  of 
water  used,  one  or  two  drams  to  the  quart. 

Women  suffering  from  uterine  diseases  should  usu- 
ally rest  at  the  menstrual  period.  It  is  not  always 
necessary  that  the  patient  should  remain  in  bed,  though 
this  is  sometimes  required;  but  a  large  share  of  the 
ordinary  duties  should  be  suspended  for  a  day  or  two 
preceding  the  period,  and  until  a  day  or  two  after  it. 
By  this  means  the  aggravation  of  troubles  which  usu- 
ally occur  at  each  menstrual  period,  may  after  a  time 
be  decreased,  until  nature  has  time  to  restore  the  mor- 
bid functions  to  proper  action. 

Since  prolapsus  of  the  bowels  and  other  abdominal 
organs,  as  the  result  of  relaxation  of  the  abdominal 
muscles,  is  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  a  large  share  of 
the  special  ailments  from  which  women  suffer,  it  is 
evident  that  for  the  relief  of  these  ailments  special 
means  must  be  adopted  by  which  these  prolapsed  or- 
gans may  be  restored  to  position  and  the  weakened 
abdominal  muscles  strengthened.  Temporary  relief 
may  be  obtained  in  a  great  number  of  cases  by  the 
wearing  of  a  properly  adjusted  abdominal  supporter; 
even  a  wide  bandage  of  strong  muslin  bound  tightly 
about  the  lower  abdomen  will  afford  great  relief  in 
many  cases.  Permanent  relief,  however,  can  be  ob- 
tained only  by  the  adoption  of  active  measures  by 
means  of  which  the  abdominal  muscles  may  be  strength- 
ened and  developed.  Massage,  Swedish  gymnastics, 
manual  Swedish  movements,  and  proper  applications 


584  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

of  electricity  are  of  the  greatest  value  for  this  pur- 
pose; indeed,  we  consider  it  next  to  impossible  to  treat 
successfully  a  large  share  of  the  ailments  peculiar  to 
women  without  the  employment  of  the  measures  last 
mentioned.  Abdominal  supporters  and  bandages  are 
of  great  value  as  palliatives,  but  they  are  practically 
valueless  as  curatives,  and  the  same  must  be  said  of  a 
large  number  of  the  surgical  operations  which  are  in- 
dicated and  performed  for  the  relief  of  the  multitudi- 
nous morbid  conditions  from  which  women  suffer. 

Leucorrhea,  or  Whites.— This  most  common  of 
all  maladies  peculiar  to  the  sex  is  not  always  an  inde- 
pendent condition,  but  sometimes  a  symptom  of  other 
disease.  It  is  often  indicative  of  a  serious  disease,  and 
should  receive  prompt  attention.  A  slight  whitish  dis- 
charge may  take  place  just  before  or  just  after  the 
menstrual  period,  which  is  entirely  natural;  but  when 
it  continues  during  the  interval  between  the  periods, 
it  is  evidence  of  disease,  either  of  the  vaginal  mucous 
membrane  or  of  the  womb,  or  both.  Viscid  mucous 
discharges  are  generally  from  the  womb.  Curdy  dis- 
charges are  occasioned  by  catarrh  of  the  vagina. 
Offensive  watery  discharges  indicate  tumors  of  the 
womb,  which  are  sometimes  malignant.  Bloody  dis- 
charges are  the  result  of  tumors  of  various  kinds,  and 
cancers,  and  lacerations  of  the  womb.  A  very  offen- 
sive discharge  is  often  indicative  of  cancer. 

Treatment.— The  hot  vaginal  douche  should  be 
used  daily,  and,  if  necessary,  more  than  once  a  day. 
Wlien  the  discharge  is  profuse,  but  not  offensive  in 
character,  ordinary  alum  may  be  advantageously  em- 
ployed in  the  proportion  of  a  teaspoonful  to  a  quart  of 
water.  The  whole  amount  of  water  used  for  the  douche 
need  not  contain  alum,  but  only  the  last  quart  or  two. 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  585 

The  temperature  of  the  water  employed  shoiiki  be 
110°  to  120°  and  the  quantity  four  to  eight  quarts. 
Wlien  the  discharge  is  offensive  in  character,  perman- 
ganate of  potash  (ten  grains  to  the  quart  of  water) 
shoukl  be  used  in  place  of  the  alum  every  other  day. 
Use  the  alum  douche  on  alternate  days.  Watery  or 
bloody  discharges  often  require  more  vigorous  meas- 
ures; but  such  cases  should  receive  the  personal  atten- 
tion of  a  physician ;  in  fact,  in  all  cases  in  which  the 
discharge  is  profuse,  a  physician  should  be  consulted, 
unless  the  discharge  very  quickly  and  permanently 
disappears  by  the  adoption  of  the  simple  means  sug- 
gested. 

Vaginitis.  — This  is  an  inflammation  of  the  vagina 
which  very  nearly  corresponds  to  gonorrhea  in  the 
male.  There  is  much  swelling,  heat,  and  tenderness, 
and  a  smarting  or  burning  sensation,  accompanied  by 
more  or  less  discharge,  usually  of  a  greenish  charac- 
ter. The  principal  causes  are  an  irritating  discharge 
from  the  womb,  use  of  caustics,  the  wearing  of  uterine 
sui^porters,  self-abuse  and  other  sexual  excesses,  and 
contagion. 

Treatment,— The  hot  vaginal  douche  and  perman- 
ganate douche  (see  index)  used  daily  will  usually  effect 
a  cure  in  cases  of  this  sort  within  a  short  time,  if  faith- 
fully tried,  although  pains  must  be  taken  to  secure  the 
application  of  the  solution  to  the  entire  vaginal  sur- 
face, and  the  cause  of  the  condition  must  of  course  be 
effectually  removed.  When  there  is  great  irritation, 
an  emollient  application  should  be  employed.  Starch 
or  a  powder  consisting  of  equal  parts  of  starch  and 
subcarbonate  of  bismuth,  is  very  valuable.  This  must 
be  applied  by  a  physician  or  some  person  skilled  in 
making  applications  of  this  kind. 


586  PLAIN    PACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Vaginismus.— This  condition  is  one  in  which  great 
irritability  exists  about  the  mouth  of  the  vagina,  caus- 
ing violent  contraction,  accompanied  by  cutting  pain. 
It  is  often  the  cause  of  much  suffering  as  well  as  in- 
convenience. The  principal  causes  are  inflammation 
of  the  vagina,  rawness  of  the  mucous  membrane,  vas- 
cular growths  of  the  urethra,  fissure  of  the  anus,  hys- 
teria, itching  of  the  genitals.  This  complaint  often 
occasions  great  distress,  and  is  characterized  by  in- 
tense itching,  burning,  or  tingling  of  the  external 
organs  of  generation.  The  itching  sometimes  extends 
into  the  vagina  to  some  extent.  The  most  common 
cause  of  the  disease  is  an  ichorous  discharge  from  the 
womb  or  the  vagina,  which  frequently  occurs  in  old 
age.  This  disorder  is  sometimes  present  in  cases  of 
diabetes.  The  disease  is  occasionally  wholly  nervous 
in  character. 

Treatfnent.—Tlie  hot  vaginal  douche  is  of  great 
value  in  many  cases  of  this  kind.  In  some  instances, 
forcible  dilatation  by  means  of  a  surgical  operation  is 
required.  Diseases  of  the  rectum,  when  existing,  must 
of  course  be  removed.  The  same  is  true  of  diseased 
conditions  of  the  urethra.  Electricity  is  occasionally 
of  great  value  in  treating  cases  of  this  kind. 

Uterine  Catarrh. —This  is  a  catarrhal  inflamma- 
tion of  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the  uterus.  The 
most  common  causes  are  taking  cold  at  the  menstrual 
period  and  self-abuse  or  sexual  excesses.  Women  who 
do  not  nurse  their  children  after  childbirth  are  very 
apt  to  suffer  with  this  disease.  The  general  symptoms 
are  a  constant  discharge,  often  appearing  in  adhesive, 
stringy  masses;  scanty,  suppressed,  painful,  or  pro- 
fuse menstruation:  headache,  particularly  at  the  top 
of  the  head ;  weakness  in  the  back  and  across  the  lower 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  587 

part  of  the  bowels;  slow  digestion;  inactive  bowels; 
neurasthenia;  hysteria;  general  debility. 

Treatment.— ^est  in  bed  and  the  employment  of 
hot  vaginal  douches  are  of  very  great  value.  A  sitz 
bath,  at  75°  to  80°  F.,  taken  daily  at  bedtime  after 
the  douche,  is  also  of  very  great  value.  In  very  obsti- 
nate cases,  a  surgical  operation  may  be  necessary,  the 
operation  consisting  of  scraping  the  inside  of  the 
uterus  with  a  proper  instrument  and  afterward  mak- 
ing applications  of  galvanic  electricity.  The  latter 
method  is  very  successful  in  a  great  number  of  cases. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten,  also,  that  catarrh  is  only 
a  sjnnptom,  and  indicates  a  state  of  congestion  which 
may  be  the  result  of  prolapsed  abdominal  viscera, 
requiring  restoration  of  the  tone  of  the  abdominal 
muscles  by  massage,  electricity,  and  gymnastics.  Tem- 
porary relief  may  often  be  obtained  by  abdominal  sup- 
porters. 

Chronic  Inflammation  of  the  Womb. — The 
symptoms  are  pain  in  the  lower  part  of  the  back  and 
just  above  the  pubic  bone,  tenderness  on  pressure  at 
the  last-named  point,  weight  or  dragging  feeling  in  the 
bowels,  desire  to  relieve  the  bladder  too  frequently, 
leucorrhea,  headache,  general  nervous  debility.  The 
most  common  causes  are  sexual  excesses,  employment 
of  means  to  prevent  conception,  improper  dress,  abor- 
tions and  miscarriages,  getting  up  too  soon  after  con- 
finements, injuries  in  the  neck  of  the  womb,  or  peri- 
neum, occurring  at  childbirth.  To  these  must  also  be 
added  the  wearing  of  uterine  supporters,  which  fre- 
quently, by  not  fitting  properly,  produce  serious  in- 
flammation of  the  womb. 

Treatment.— This  disease  requires  absolute  rest  in 
bed  and  the  employment  of  hot  vaginal  douches  two 


588  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

or  three  times  daily.  Fomentation  to  tlie  spine,  hot 
and  cold  sponging  of  the  spine,  and,  in  the  later  stages 
of  the  disease,  the  sitz  bath,  are  useful. 

Measures  of  treatment  as  prescribed  for  catarrh  of 
the  womb  are  also  useful  in  this  condition,  after  the 
acute  stage  has  passed. 

Erosion  of  the  Womb.— The  condition  usually 
known  as  ulceration  of  the  womb  is  not  what  is  com- 
monly termed  ulceration  elsewhere,  but  would  be  more 
properly  termed  erosion.  This  condition  generally 
exists  in  connection  with  congestion  or  chronic  inflam- 
mation of  the  womb. 

Treatment.— This  condition  usually  requires  the 
personal  attention  of  a  skilled  physician.  The  hot 
vaginal  douche,  110°  to  115°  F.,  is  an  excellent  measure 
of  treatment.  The  addition  of  borax  is  useful.  After 
an  ordinary  douche  of  two  to  three  gallons  of  water, 
inject  a  half  pint  of  a  saturated  solution  of  borax. 

The  prolonged  cool  sitz  bath  is  also  very  useful. 
Temperature  80°  F.  at  first,  to  be  reduced  one  degree 
daily  to  75°  F.     Duration,  ten  to  twenty  minutes. 

Amenorrhea,  or  Suppressed  Menstruation.— 
This  term  is  applied  to  a  condition  in  which  the  men- 
strual flow  is  absent.  There  are  two  varieties  of  the 
disease,  one  in  which  the  flow  has  never  made  its  ap- 
pearance, though  the  proper  time  has  arrived,  and  the 
other  in  which  the  flow  has  been  suppressed  after  hav- 
ing been  once  established.  There  are  numerous  causes 
of  this  disorder.  It  is  usually  the  result  of  impaired 
nutrition.  Every  case  of  amenorrhea  is  not  patho- 
logical, however.  Sometimes,  as  in  fevers  and  other 
wasting  diseases,  the  function  is  suspended  as  a  means 
of  economizing  the  vital  forces  of  the  body.  In  these 
cases,  no  attempt  should  be  made  to  restore  the  func- 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  589 

tion  by  drugs  or  other  means.  Great  harm  is  often 
done  by  the  use  of  amenagogues.  A  temj^orary  sup- 
pression of  the  menstrual  flow  sometimes  results  from 
the  disuse  of  flesh  food  on  the  part  of  persons  who 
have  been  accustomed  to  using  it  freely;  but  we  never 
have  seen  any  harm  arise  from  the  suppression  of  the 
menstrual  flow  in  these  cases.  Persons  suffering  with 
amenorrhea  sometimes  have  a  vicarious  hemorrhage 
when  the  menstrual  flow  first  makes  its  reappearance. 
The  hemorrhage  may  occur  from  the  nose,  stomach, 
or  bowels,  and  has  often  been  known  to  occur  through 
the  skin  in  the  form  of  bloody  sweat. 

Treatment.— When  this  condition  is  a  symptom  of 
general  disease,  a  cure  is  to  be  obtained,  not  by  treat- 
ment of  the  womb,  but  by  removal  of  the  general  mor- 
bid conditions  of  which  the  symptom  is  a  result.  Every 
measure  calculated  to  build  up  the  general  health 
should  be  employed,  such  as  a  very  nourishing,  whole- 
some, easily  digested  dietary,  abundance  of  out-of-door 
exercise,  gjTimastics,  particularly  such  exercise  as  will 
bring  into  activity  the  muscles  of  the  trunk  and  legs, 
and  in  cases  of  great  debility  massage  and  manual 
Swedish  movements,  are  among  the  most  valuable 
measures  to  be  employed.  Swimming  may  be  recom- 
mended for  patients  who  have  sufficient  vigor  to  under- 
take this  most  healthful  form  of  exercise.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  very  good  prescription  as  a  daily  routine  of 
treatment:  On  going  to  bed  at  night,  give  a  fomenta- 
tion covering  the  whole  abdomen,  for  fifteen  minutes, 
changing  every  five  minutes.  After  removing  the  fo- 
mentation, apply  a  towel  wrung  out  of  cold  water  dry 
enough  so  it  will  not  drip.  The  towel  should  be  long 
enough  to  reach  around  the  body,  and  should  be  cov- 
ered with  oil  muslin,  then  with  several  thicknesses  of 

35 


590  PLAIN    PACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

flannel,  to  prevent  evaporation.  Remove  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  take  a  cold  towel  bath,  followed  by  vigorous 
rubbing.  Rej)lace  the  moist  bandage  worn  during  the 
night  by  a  dry  flannel  bandage  to  be  worn  during  the 
day.  These  simple  measures,  if  faithfully  followed, 
will  be  found  effective  in  a  very  large  proportion  of 
cases  of  this  kind. 

The  prolonged  warm  sitz  bath,  98°  to  100°  F.,  ten 
to  twenty  minutes  daily,  is  beneficial  by  increasing  the 
circulation  of  blood  in  the  pelvic  organs.  The  hot  foot 
or  leg  bath,  100°  to  104°  F.,  ten  to  fifteen  minutes,  acts 
in  the  same  way.  The  heating  leg  compress  is  useful. 
The  following  is  a  simple  mode  of  preparation:  Wet 
in  cold  water  one-third  of  a. towel  one  yard  long,  wring 
dry,  apply  snugly  about  the  calf  of  the  leg,  winding 
on  first  the  wet  part,  then  the  dry.  Over  the  towel 
apply  a  somewhat  broader  strip  of  mackintosh,  then 
flannel  cloth  sufficient  to  retain  the  heat.  Apply  at 
bedtime,  and  retain  overnight.  Bathe  the  parts  with 
cold  water,  and  rub  well  in  the  morning  before 
dressing. 

Scanty  Menstruation. —The  principal  causes  of 
scanty  or  deficient  menstruation  are  inflammation  of 
the  ovaries;  ovarian  tumors,  consumjition,  or  other 
wasting  diseases;  anteflexion  of  the  womb;  mental  de- 
pression, or  general  debilit5^ 

Treatment.— T\\e  measures  of  treatment  recom- 
mended for  the  preceding  malady  are  equally  appli- 
cable to  this. 

Menorrhagia.— This  condition  is  that  in  which 
there  is  a  too  profuse  discharge  of  blood.  The  system 
is  weakened  by  the  loss,  and  so  much  so,  in  many  cases, 
that  the  individual  does  not  recover  her  accustomed 
strength  before  the  occurrence  of  the  next  period,  when 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  591 


she  becomes  weakened  still  more.  By,  a  continuance 
of  this  periodical  loss,  the  person  may  be  reduced  to  a 
state  of  almost  utter  helplessness.  A  deathly  pallor 
of  the  countenance,  extreme  emaciation,  loss  of 
strength,  and  general  debility  mark  the  effects  of  the 
constant  drain  upon  the  system.  Thousands  of  young 
women  continue  to  suffer  in  this  way  year  after  year, 
until  their  constitutions  are  almost  hopelessly  wrecked, 
being  deterred  by  false  notions  of  modesty  or  delicacy 
from  consulting  a  proper  medical  adviser  and  finding 
relief. 

Treatment.— The  observance  of  a  few  simple  pre- 
cautions, and  the  application  of  proper  remedies  will 
very  promptly  check  the  unnatural  loss  in  most  of  these 
cases.  In  the  first  place,  absolute  rest,  chiefly  in  a 
supine  position,  must  be  observed,  not  only  during  the 
menstrual  period,  but  for  a  few  days  previous  to  its 
commencement.  If  this  does  not  restrain  the  flow,  cool 
and  even  cold  compresses  may  be  applied  to  the  lower 
part  of  the  abdomen  and  to  the  small  of  the  back.  In 
severe  cases,  no  harm  will  come  from  the  use  of  an 
ice  compress,  made  by  inclosing  pounded  ice  between 
the  folds  of  a  towel.  Great  care  must  be  taken  to  make 
the  hands,  arms,  feet,  and  limbs  thoroughly  warm  by 
the  application  of  warm  bottles  and  woolen  blankets. 
These  measures  will  scarcely  fail  to  accomplish  the 
desired  end,  if  employed  efficiently  and  judiciously.  It 
may  be  well  to  add,  just  here,  that  the  popular  fear  of 
using  cold  in  such  cases  is  groundless.  No  harm  can 
come  so  long  as  the  extremities  are  kept  warm  and 
the  circulation  well  balanced.  However,  the  patient 
must  not  be  allowed  to  become  chilly.  It  is  also  of 
importance  that  the  patient  be  kept  mentally  quiet  as 
well  as  physically  so. 


592  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

Much  good  will  result  from  these  simple  measures 
at  the  time  of  the  period;  but  a  radical  cure  can  only 
be  effected  by  removing  the  cause  of  the  difficulty.  The 
patient's  general  health  must  be  improved,  and  local 
congestion  must  be  removed.  This  will  be  accom- 
plished by  attention  to  general  hygiene,  gentle  exer- 
cise out-of-doors  between  the  periods,  abundance  of 
good  food,  tonic  baths  and  other  necessary  treatment 
if  there  is  derangement  of  the  digestive  organs,  and 
daily  hip  baths  with  a  local  douche.  The  hip  bath 
should  be  taken  in  water  of  a  temperature  of  80°  at 
the  beginning,  after  five  minutes  lowering  it  five  de- 
grees. After  another  five  minutes,  it  may  be  lowered 
a  few  degrees  more.  By  taking  at  the  same  time  a 
warm  foot  bath  at  104°,  quite  a  cool  bath  may  be  en- 
dured without  chilling.  The  bath  should  be  continued 
fifteen  to  thirty  minutes,  according  to  the  strength  of 
the  patient.  A  shorter  bath  than  this  will  do  little 
good,  as  the  sedative  effect  will  not  be  obtained. 

The  hot  vaginal  douche  should  be  taken  just  before 
the  sitz  bath.  The  fountain  or  siphon  syringe  should 
be  employed,  and  the  water  used  should  range  from 
110°  to  115°,  as  best  suits  the  sensations  of  the  patient. 

By  these  simple  remedies  alone  we  have  successfully 
treated  scores  of  cases  of  this  sort.  In  some  cases, 
other  remedies  may  be  required,  and  in  nearly  all, 
accessory  remedies  can  be  employed  to  advantage ;  but 
the  measures  described  are  the  main  features  of  the 
most  successful  mode  of  treatment. 

In  obstinate  cases  of  this  disease,  by  which  is  to  be 
understood  all  cases  in  which  the  disease  does  not  read- 
ily yield  to  the  application  of  the  measures  suggested, 
a  skilful  surgeon  should  be  consulted,  as  the  profuse 
flow  is  probably  due  to  the  existence  in  the  uterus  of 


DISEASES   PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  593 

small  growths  known  as  "vegetations."  These  must 
be  removed  by  an  operation  known  as  curetting.  The 
operation  is  a  very  simple  one,  and  is  perfectly  safe 
when  performed  under  aseptic  conditions,  that  is,  when 
all  the  necessary  precautions  are  taken  to  prevent  in- 
fection and  inflammation.  The  only  discouraging  fea- 
ture of  these  cases  is  that  the  growths  are  very  likely 
to  return;  curetting  alone  is  not  usually  sufficient  to 
effect  a  radical  cure.  It  is  sometimes  necessary  to 
treat  the  cavity  of  the  uterus  by  the  employment  of 
galvanic  electricity.  We  believe  this  to  be  the  most 
effective  means  of  making  a  radical  cure  in  these  cases. 

Hemorrhage  from  the  Womb.— A  profuse  flow 
of  blood  from  the  womb,  occurring  at  any  other  time 
than  the  menstrual  period,  is  a  hemorrhage,  and  not 
menstruation.  The  flow  of  blood  is  sometimes  so  pro- 
fuse as  to  endanger  life. 

Treatment  .—For  most  cases  of  this  description  the 
measures  of  treatment  to  be  adopted  are  the  same  as 
for  the  preceding  disease;  but  in  severe  cases  more 
active  measures  must  be  employed.  The  patient 
should,  of  course,  remain  quiet  in  bed  with  the  feet 
and  hips  elevated.  Heat  should  be  applied  to  the 
spine,  and  cold  bags  or  compresses  over  the  lower 
abdomen.  Hot  alum  douches  (a  tablespoonful  to  a 
quart  of  water)  should  be  administered,  and  repeated 
every  two  or  three  hours  if  necessary.  If  the  flow  con- 
tinues, a  tampon  consisting  of  equal  parts  of  powdered 
alum  and  sugar  (half  a  tablespoonful  of  each)  may 
be  applied.  The  alum  and  sugar  should  be  wrapped 
up  in  one  or  two  thicknesses  of  cheese-cloth,  the  edges 
of  the  cloth  being  gathered  together  and  tied,  the  string 
being  left  long  so  that  it  can  be  removed  when  desired. 
Even  these  measures  sometimes  fail;  in  such  cases,  a 


594  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

skilled  surgeon  should  be  at  once  consulted,  as  loss 
of  blood  through  this  channel  is  as  serious  as  through 
any  other.  No  hemorrhage  of  the  uterus  need  be  very 
long  continued,  except  under  most  extraordinary  cir- 
cumstances. A  skilled  surgeon  can  quickly  stop  the 
flow  of  blood  by  passing  a  tampon  consisting  of  a  nar- 
row strip  of  cheese-cloth,  properly  sterilized,  into  the 
uterus  itself.  Pressure  is  thus  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  bleeding  surface,  which  coagulates  the  blood  in  the 
mouths  of  the  open  vessels,  thus  stopping  the  hemor- 
rhage. Hemorrhage  of  the  womb  is  a  symptom  which 
should  always  give  rise  to  apprehension,  as  it  indicates 
the  probable  existence  of  some  grave  condition  of  the 
organ  which  requires  the  attention  of  a  skilled  surgeon. 
There  are  to  be  found  in  every  large  city,  and  in  most 
smaller  ones,  able  physicians  who  are  entirely  compe- 
tent to  deal  with  cases  of  this  character,  so  that  the 
loss  of  blood  should  not  be  allowed  to  continue  day 
after  day  without  receiving  attention. 

Dysmenorrhea.— This  condition  is  that  in  which 
there  is  more  or  less  pain  and  difficulty  in  connection 
with  the  menstrual  process.  The  causes  are  various, 
as  disease  of  the  ovaries,  congestion  of  the  uterus,  mal- 
formation, and  displacement  or  distortion  of  the  organ. 

Treatment.— ^ome  of  these  conditions  require  the 
attention  of  a  skilled  physician  to  remedy ;  but  all  may 
be  palliated  more  or  less  by  simple  treatments  which 
may  be  given  at  home.  A  warm  sitz  or  hot  hip  bath 
just  at  the  beginning  of  the  period  will  often  give  al- 
most magical  relief.  The  application  of  fomentations 
over  the  lower  part  of  the  abdomen,  and  the  corre- 
sponding portion  of  the  spine,  or  of  hot  bags,  bottles, 
etc.,  in  the  same  localities,  is  of  great  utility.  The 
patient  should  be  covered  warm  in  bed,  should  keep 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  595 

quiet,  and  great  care  should  be  used  to  keep  the  ex- 
tremities well  warmed.  The  use  of  electricity  is  a 
very  valuable  aid  in  numerous  cases,  but  its  appli- 
cation requires  the  services  of  a  physician,  who  should 
always  be  employed  in  severe  cases  when  within 
reach. 

In  many  cases  of  this  form  of  disease,  the  suffer- 
ing is  so  great  that  the  constant  dread  of  its  periodical 
repetition  becomes  a  source  of  great  unhappiness,  and 
casts  a  gloom  over  the  life  of  an  individual  who  would 
otherwise  be  happy. 

In  addition  to  the  measures  above  suggested,  cases 
of  this  character  sometimes  require  curetting  or 
scraping  of  the  interior  of  the  womb,  or  dilating  the 
neck  of  the  womb,  or  the  employment  of  both  measures. 
Often,  however,  it  is  necessary  that  applications  of  gal- 
vanic electricity  should  be  made  to  the  interior  of  the 
organ  at  frequent  intervals  for  a  few  weeks,  in  order 
to  effect  a  radical  cure. 

Ovarian  Irritation.— The  symptoms  of  this  mal- 
ady are  tenderness  in  the  groin,  pain  in  walking  or 
standing,  and  more  or  less  continuous  dull  pain,  which 
is  greatly  aggravated  at  the  menstrual  period,  the  lat- 
ter being  generally  induced  by  a  chill,  which  is  quicklj^' 
followed  by  a  fever,  resembling  that  present  in  inflam- 
mation of  the  ovaries.  The  most  common  causes  of 
ovarian  irritation  are  self-abuse,  sexual  excesses,  im- 
proper dress,  taking  cold  at  the  menstrual  period,  dis- 
appointment in  love,  abortion,  constipation  of  the  bow- 
els, inflammation  and  displacement  of  the  uterus,  the 
opium  habit,  the  use  of  '^  preventives. "  Cases  of  this 
sort  require  skilful  medical  care  and  management. 

Treatment.— Quite  a  large  proportion  of  all  cases 
of  ovarian  irritation  are  due  to  congestion  of  the  or- 


596  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

gans,  resulting  from  prolapsus  of  the  abdominal  con- 
tents, causing  compression  of  the  ovaries  and  inter- 
ference with  the  venous  circulation.  There  is  no 
better  means  of  affording  permanent  relief  in  these 
cases  than  properly  regulated  gymnastics,  by  means 
of  which  the  abdominal  muscles  are  developed  and 
strengthened,  the  depressed  bowels  elevated,  the  cir- 
culation of  blood  through  the  abdominal  muscles 
accelerated,  and  thus  a  normal  condition  established. 
The  hot  vaginal  douche,  rest  in  bed  in  extreme  cases, 
hot  hip  pack,  sitz  bath  two  or  three  times  a  week,  cool 
morning  sponge  bath,  regulation  of  the  bowels,  healthy 
mental  state,  and  improvement  in  the  general  health 
and  vigor,  are  the  most  effectual  means  of  remedying 
difficulties  of  this  nature.  Local  applications  of  elec- 
tricity are  of  great  value  in  sjaecial  cases.  We  have 
found  the  greatest  relief  given  by  the  sinusoidal  elec- 
trical current,  although  the  faradic  and  galvanic  cur- 
rents are  often  useful. 

Inflammation  of  the  Ovaries. —The  principal 
symptoms  are  sudden  pain  in  one  or  both  groins,  some- 
times extending  down  the  legs,  frequently  pain  in  the 
breast  of  the  affected  side,  increase  of  pain  during 
menstruation,  with  tenderness  on  pressure,  pain  in 
moving  the  bowels,  general  distress,  nausea,  more  or 
less  fever.  The  most  common  causes  are  taking  cold 
during  menstruation,  mechanical  injury,  anteflexion, 
or  gonorrhea. 

Treatment.— In  this  class  of  cases  the  patient  should 
have  absolute  rest  in  bed.  A  hot  hip  pack  may  be  ad- 
ministered daily,  followed  by  a  vaginal  douche;  alter- 
nate hot  and  cold  sponging  of  the  spine  is  a  measure 
of  value.  These  measures  of  treatment,  particularly 
the  vaginal  douche,  may  be  repeated  several  times  a 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  597 

day.  Hot  fomentations  and  hot  poultices  over  the  seat 
of  pain  often  afford  great  relief. 

When  a  high  fever  accompanying  the  local  pain 
indicates  severe  local  inflammation,  the  following 
method  is  wonderfully  effective  in  the  great  majority 
of  cases :  Apply  a  hot  blanket  pack  from  the  umbilicus 
to  the  feet.  Slip  under  the  pack  an  ice-bag,  placing 
it  over  the  seat  of  pain.  After  twenty  minutes,  re- 
move the  pack  and  apply  a  pack  to  each  leg  thus: 
Apply  first  a  large  linen  towel,  wrung  dry  as  possible 
out  of  cold  water.  Cover  this  with  mackintosh,  snugly 
wrapped  around  the  leg.  Cover  all  with  half  a  flan- 
nel sheet  or  blanket.  Wrap  the  other  leg  in  the  same 
way.  Now  wrap  both  together  in  a  flannel  blanket 
until  warm,  including  the  hips  and  trunk.  Be  care- 
ful the  treatment  does  not  chill.  Take  off  the  ice-bag 
and  apply  a  fomentation  once  in  every  half  hour  for 
five  minutes.  Repeat  the  hot  hip  and  leg  pack  every 
three  or  four  hours  until  the  pain  and  inflammation 
subside. 

The  hot  vaginal  douche  (110°  to  115°)  should  be 
applied  every  three  or  four  hours.  A  hot  enema  should 
be  given  once  or  twice  daily. 

Cellulitis.— This  is  an  inflammation  of  the  cellu- 
lar tissue  about  the  womb.  The  symptoms  are  chills, 
accompanied  by  fever  and  pain  across  the  pelvis,  some- 
times nausea  and  vomiting,  tenderness  on  pressure 
above  the  pubic  bone,  painful  urination  and  defeca- 
tion, profuse  menstruation.  Abscesses  sometimes  form, 
which  may  open  externally,  through  the  bowels,  va- 
gina, or  bladder.  Contractions  of  the  uterus  about 
the  womb,  causing  displacement  of  the  organ,  are  apt 
to  follow  this  inflammation.  The  most  common  causes 
are  childbirth,  abortion,  taking  cold  at  the  menstrual 


598         PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

period,  inflammation  of  the  uterus,  the  use  of  caustics 
upon  the  womb,  gonorrhea,  pessaries,  and  sexual 
excesses. 

Recent  investigations  of  eminent  surgeons  have 
shown  that  the  condition  formerly  supposed  to  be  cellu- 
litis, or  inflammation  of  the  cellular  tissue  about  the 
uterus,  is,  in  many  cases,  an  inflammation  of  the  Fal- 
lopian tubes,  called  in  medical  phraseology  salpingitis. 
One  of  the  most  common  causes  of  this  condition  is 
gonorrheal  infection.  Every  woman  ought  to  know 
that  in  marrying  a  man  who  has  once  suffered  from 
this  disease,  she  is  exposing  herself  to  the  liability  of 
contracting  it,  even  though  many  years  have  elapsed 
since  the  disease  was  supposed  to  have  been  cured. 
The  disease  is  a  very  persistent  one,  apparently  re- 
maining latent  for  many  years,  only  to  break  out  afresh 
as  the  result  of  a  slight  cold  or  some  other  exciting 
cause,  although  perhaps  in  so  modified  a  form  that  its 
real  character  is  not  suspected.  Thousands  of  men 
who  have  led,  for  a  time,  dissipated  lives,  but  have 
reformed,  have  unknowingly  communicated  to  their 
wives  this  wretched  disease,  and  have  thereby  not  only 
rendered  them  sterile  as  the  result  of  the  inflammation 
of  the  tubes,  set  up  by  the  infection,  but  have  sub- 
jected them  to  most  terrible  suffering,  and  not  infre- 
quently to  loss  of  life.  Thousands  of  women  have  been 
saved  from  death  only  by  the  surgeon's  knife.  The 
author  has  had  occasion  to  operate  upon  many  cases 
of  this  kind,  and  not  infrequently  it  has  been  only 
by  the  narrowest  chance  that  the  patient's  life  was 
saved. 

In  a  recent  case  operated  upon,  the  pelvis  was  filled 
with  two  enormous  abscesses,  one  on  either  side,  one 
of  which  ruptured  in  the  effort  to  remove  it,  in  spite 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  599 


of  the  greatest  care,  giving  vent  to  a  great  quantity 
of  the  most  horrible  smelling  pus  into  the  pelvic  cav- 
ity. By  exercising  the  greatest  care  in  cleansing  the 
pelvic  cavity,  and  painstaking  nursing  after  the  opera- 
tion, the  patient's  life  was  saved.  This  is  only  a  sam- 
ple of  many  cases  which  might  be  recorded.  Our  pur- 
pose in  mentioning  this  fact  is  that  every  woman  may 
be  warned  by  a  knowledge  of  the  risk  incurred  in  enter- 
ing the  matrimonial  state  with  a  man  who  has  previ- 
ously led  a  life  of  immorality.  A  man  who  has  led  a 
pure  life  runs  not  so  great  a  risk  in  marrying  a  woman 
of  impure  life,  as  does  a  pure  woman  in  marrying  a 
reformed  rake. 

Treatinent.— The  treatment  of  pelvic  inflammation 
is  essentially  the  same  as  that  described  for  ''Inflam- 
mation of  the  Ovaries."     See  page  596. 

Prolapsus,  or  Falling  of  the  Womb.— Of  all 
forms  of  displacement  of  the  womb,  this  is  perhaps  the 
most  common.  A  woman  suffering  from  prolapsus 
complains  of  tenderness  just  above  the  pubes;  irrita- 
tion of  the  bladder  and  rectum ;  sense  of  fulness  in  the 
vagina;  dragging  pain  in  the  back,  extending  around 
the  body,  which,  with  other  symptoms,  is  aggravated 
by  walking  or  long  standing  upon  the  feet ;  profuse  or 
painful  menstruation;  leucorrhea.  Sometimes  local 
symptoms  are  entirely  absent,  all  the  unpleasant  sen- 
sations being  experienced  elsewhere.  Patients  com- 
plain of  a  dull  ache  at  the  top  of  the  head,  nervousness 
and  depression  of  spirits,  constipation  of  the  bowels, 
general  debility.  In  very  bad  cases,  the  organ  some- 
times becomes  so  prolapsed  that  it  protrudes  from  the 
body,  a  condition  subjecting  the  patient  to  great  suffer- 
ing and  inconvenience.  In  these  instances,  however, 
the  patient  may  be  relieved  by  a  proper  surgical  opera- 


600  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

tion,  by  means  of  which  the  organ  is  supported  in  a 
natural  position. 

In  most  of  these  cases,  as  well  as  in  other  forms  of 
displacement,  the  patient  has  usually  worn  pessaries 
of  some  sort  for  years,  with  the  effect  of  ultimately 
increasing  the  gravity  of  the  condition,  and  greatly 
adding  to  the  difficulty  of  effecting  a  cure.  The  most 
common  causes  of  falling  of  the  womb  are  the  wearing 
of  heavy  skirts  suspended  from  the  waist,  dancing, 
taking  cold  at  the  menstrual  period,  self-abuse,  lifting 
heavy  weights,  improper  management  at  childbirth, 
tear  in  the  neck  of  the  womb  or  perineum,  and,  in  fact, 
local  disease  of  any  sort.  Prolapsus  is  almost  always 
attended  by  enlargement  of  the  womb.  Even  the  worst 
cases  of  this  disease  are  curable  by  proper  manage- 
ment, though  many  women  suffering  from  this  trouble 
endure  the  tortures  of  irrational  treatment  at  the  hands 
of  inexperienced  and  incompetent  physicians,  from  the 
effects  of  which  they  may  suffer  for  many  years. 

Other  Forms  of  Displacement.  — Anteversion, 
anteflexion,  retroversion,  retroflexion,  and  the  various 
other  forms  of  displacement,  are  due  to  very  much  the 
same  causes  as  those  which  give  rise  to  prolapsus,  and 
the  symptoms  are  also  very  much  the  same.  Backward 
displacements  give  rise  to  greater  and  more  constant 
pain  in  the  back ;  while  forward  displacements  produce 
greater  pain  in  the  lower  part  of  the  body  in  front, 
disturbed  action  of  the  bladder,  and  hence  too  fre- 
quent and  painful  urination,  etc.  Remarks  made  re- 
garding the  treatment  of  prolapsus  apply  with  equal 
force  to  these  other  forms  of  displacement. 

Treatment.— The  most  common  form  of  uterine  dis- 
placement requiring  the  attention  of  the  physician  is 
retroversion  or  retroflexion.     This  condition  is  rarely 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  601 

an  isolated  one;  it  is  usually  found  in  connection  with 
abdominal  displacements  of  various  other  organs  of 
the  trunk.  In  150  cases  of  uterine  displacements  we 
found  but  four  or  five  in  which  there  was  not  displace- 
ment of  other  organs  besides  the  womb.  Displacement 
of  the  stomach  and  bowels  was  found  in  nearly  every 
case;  the  right  kidney  was  movable  or  floating  in 
twenty-six  cases,  and  the  liver  was  prolapsed  in  five 
cases.  The  little  success  which  has  attended  the  treat- 
ment of  retroversion,  even  by  means  of  operations  of 
various  kinds  and  the  notorious  inefficiency  of  mechan- 
ical supports  which  not  only  fail  of  curing  disease,  but 
not  infrequently  aggravate  the  morbid  conditions  which 
are  present  with  it,  such  as  ulceration,  inflammation, 
etc.,— is  unquestionably  due  to  the  failure  to  recognize 
the  fact  that  retroversion  of  the  womb,  as  well  as  other 
forms  of  uterine  displacement,  is  not  an  isolated  condi- 
tion, at  least  in  a  great  majority  of  cases,  but  is  only 
a  single  element  in  a  general  state  of  disorder  affecting 
nearly  all  the  organs  of  the  trunk. 

It  is  evident,  then,  that  the  successful  treatment  of 
this  condition  requires  something  more  than  treatment 
of  the  womb  itself;  the  organs  must  be  lifted  up  into 
place  and  supported.  The  abdominal  muscles  must 
be  developed  by  gymnastics,  massage,  and  electricity, 
manual  Swedish  movements,  exercises  of  various  sorts 
carefully  adapted  to  each  individual  case,  so  that  the 
support  of  the  abdominal  organs  may  be  rendered  per- 
manent. These  measures  alone  will,  now  and  then, 
effect  a  cure,  but  cases  in  which  a  recovery  can  be 
effected  thus  easily  are  very  rare.  In  the  great  major- 
ity of  cases  additional  measures  are  necessary,  the 
uterus  must  be  restored  to  position  and  must  be  held 
in  place.    This  can  be  conveniently  done  by  means  of 


602  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

a  pessary,  but  the  use  of  pessaries  involves  various 
inconveniences  and  dangers,  some  of  which  have  al- 
ready been  mentioned.  The  best  means  to  be  employed 
for  this  purpose  is  a  simple  surgical  operation,  which 
consists  in  the  shortening  or  advancement  of  the  round 
ligaments.  By  means  of  this  operation  the  uterus  is 
tilted  forward,  and  held  out  of  the  current  of  the  down- 
ward pressure,  and  is  thus  protected  from  the  influence 
of  the  superincumbent  weight  of  the  prolapsed  abdom- 
inal organs. 

By  the  combination  of  these  two  classes  of  means, 
surgical  and  hygienic,  nearly  all  cases  of  retroversion 
or  retroflexion  can  be  cured.  This  operation  has  been 
successfully  performed  in  hundreds  of  cases.  A^Hien 
the  operation  is  properly  performed,  and  followed  by 
the  application  of  the  measures  suggested,  success  may 
be  attained  in  at  least  ninety-five  per  cent  of  all  cases 
which  are  suited  for  the  operation. 

Prolapsus  of  the  Ovaries.— The  symptoms  of  this 
unfortunate  and  very  serious  condition  are  pain  of  a 
sickening  character  during  movement  of  the  bowels 
and  in  walking,  and  after  standing  on  the  feet  for  some 
time,  starting  in  the  groin  and  extending  along  the 
front  of  the  thigh  on  the  affected  side ;  painful  connec- 
tion. On  making  an  examination  with  the  finger,  the 
ovary  can  usually  be  felt  as  a  round  swelling  on  one 
side  of  the  womb.  Sometimes,  in  extreme  cases,  the 
ovary  may  be  found  behind  the  womb.  The  most  com- 
mon causes  are  chronic  congestion  of  the  womb,  pro- 
lapsus, retroversion  or  retroflexion,  inflammation  of 
the  ovaries,  self-abuse  and  other  sexual  excesses,  abor- 
tion, and  the  employment  of  means  to  prevent  con- 
ception. 

When  due  to  retroversion  or  some  other  displace- 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  603 

ment  of  the  uterus,  this  difficulty  may  often  be  cured. 
In  many  cases  the  ovary  cannot  be  restored  perma- 
nently to  position,  but  by  proper  treatment,  the  ovary 
can  be  brought  into  a  healthy  state  so  that  pain  and 
tenderness  will  disappear,  and  thus  a  practical  cure 
will  be  obtained.  The  means  for  accomplishing  this 
are  the  hot  vaginal  douche,  the  prolonged  cool  sitz  (80° 
to  70°,  for  ten  to  twenty  minutes),  the  wet  girdle,  and 
improvement  of  the  general  health.  The  bowels  must 
be  made  regular.    Continence  is  essential. 

Rectocele.— This  is  a  condition  in  which  the  pos- 
terior wall  of  the  vagina  is  greatly  relaxed  and  pulls 
forward,  dragging  with  it,  also,  the  anterior  portion  of 
the  rectal  wall.  This  forms  a  pouch  in  which  the  feces 
sometimes  accumulate,  and  into  which  they  are  pressed 
when  attempting  to  move  the  bowels,  making  it  nec- 
essary to  press  the  parts  back  in  order  to  secure  a 
movement.  The  most  frequent  cause  is  a  tear  of  the 
perineum  at  childbirth.  Cases  of  this  sort  *  require 
a  surgical  operation.  We  have  found  it  necessary  to 
perform  this  operation  in  many  cases,  and  have  uni- 
formly met  with  most  happy  results. 

Treatment.— In  this  condition,  as  well  as  in  various 
forms  of  displacement  of  the  womb,  elevation  and  sup- 
port of  the  abdominal  organs  is  required,  as  well  as 
surgical  measures.  In  many  cases  surgical  measures 
are  not  needed  if  the  abdominal  organs  are  properly 
supported. 

Cystocele,  or  Prolapsus  of  the  Bladder.— This 
is  a  condition  somewhat  similar  to  the  preceding,  only 
involving  the  front  wall  of  the  vagina,  the  back  wall 
being  dragged  down  to  the  vaginal  wall,  which  forms 
a  pouch  bulging  out  at  the  vaginal  entrance.  The 
patient  experiences  difficulty  in  evacuating  the  bladder. 


604  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

In  a  case  recently  under  the  care  of  the  author,  the 
amount  of  prolapsus  was  so  great  that  the  urethra  was 
doubled  upon  itself,  so  that  the  bladder  could  not  be 
evacuated  without  pressing  backward  on  the  prolapsed 
portion  with  the  hand.  In  consequence  of  the  reten- 
tion of  urine,  the  bladder  being  seldom  emptied,  disease 
of  the  bladder  is  likely  to  be  set  up,  with  its  many 
attendant  inconveniences  and  often  great  suffering. 

The  most  common  cause  of  this  condition  is  pro- 
lapsus of  the  womb.  It  is  frequently  met  with  in  its 
worst  form  in  elderly  women  who  also  suffer  with 
rectocele.  In  several  cases  which  have  come  under  the 
care  of  the  author,  the  patients  have  been  quite  ad- 
vanced in  life,  several  years  past  the  menopause,  and 
the  difficulty  has  been  due  to  a  tear  in  the  perineum, 
followed  by  great  relaxation  of  the  vaginal  walls.  By 
means  of  a  proper  surgical  operation,  the  difficulty  is 
wholly  curable;  but  little  can  be  done  for  its  relief  by 
home  treatment,  aside  from  the  employment  of  hot 
vaginal  douches  and  solutions  of  tannin  and  other 
astringents,  which,  of  course,  afford  only  temporary 
relief. 

Treatment.— The  remarks  made  respecting  the  treat- 
ment of  rectocele  are  equally  applicable  to  this  condi- 
tion. A  surgical  operation  is  sometimes  required,  al- 
though, as  a  rule,  surgical  measures  are  of  very  little 
value  unless  accompanied  or  succeeded  by  measures  cal- 
culated to  strengthen  the  abdominal  walls  and  support 
the  abdominal  organs.  The  abdominal  supporter  is  of 
great  value  in  these  cases,  as  a  palliative  until  the 
abdominal  walls  have  acquired  sufficient  strength  to 
support  the  tension  of  the  abdomen.  In  cases  in  which 
women  have  borne  many  children,  the  muscular  struc- 
tures of  the  abdominal  walls  are  so  greatly  weakened 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  605 

that  they  can  never  be  restored  to  the  normal  condition. 
In  such  cases  the  abdominal  supporter  must  habitually 
be  worn.  The  relief  afforded  by  a  properly  adjusted 
supporter  is  all  that  is  required  in  a  great  majority  or 
cases  of  cystocele.  Only  cases  in  which  the  condition 
is  so  aggravated  as  to  render  it  difficult  or  impossible 
to  enter  the  bladder,  or  to  occasion  some  other  serious 
inconvenience,  are  suitable  for  operation. 

Sterility. — In  six  cases  out  of  seven  in  which  mar- 
ried people  are  unable  to  beget  children,  the  fault  is 
with  the  wife.  The  most  common  causes  in  women  are 
contraction  of  the  canal  of  the  womb,  displacements, 
catarrh  of  the  womb,  leucorrhea,  and  profuse  men- 
struation. Of  the  remote  causes,  sexual  excesses,  espe- 
cially self-abuse,  are  the  most  potent.  In  occasional 
cases,  the  womb  or  ovaries  may  be  absent.  Sometimes 
both  of  these  organs  are  wanting.  When  this  condi- 
tion exists,  a  wise  and  experienced  physician  should 
be  consulted,  as  in  many  cases  the  cause  is  of  such  a 
nature  that  it  can  be  removed  by  proper  treatment. 

Probably  one  of  the  most  common  causes  of  sterility 
in  women  is  an  inflammation  of  the  Fallopian  tubes, 
often  also  involving  the  ovaries,  resulting  from  gonor- 
rheal infection.  Thousands  of  healthy  women  have 
been  rendered  sterile,  and  often  invalids  for  life,  by 
contracting  gonorrhea  which  existed  in  a  latent  form 
in  their  husbands,  who  had  perhaps  suffered  from  the 
disease  and  supposed  themselves  cured  many  years 
before,  when  sowing  their  wild  oats  in  their  younger 
days.  Not  infrequently  also,  the  inflammation  and  re- 
sulting damage  of  the  uterus  and  Fallopian  tubes  fol- 
lowing an  induced  miscarriage  or  abortion,  is  a  cause 
of  sterility. 

Treatment.— The  treatment  of  this  condition  con- 

36  ,  ,    . 


606  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

sists  in  removing  as  far  as  possible  the  causes  by  which 
it  is  induced.  In  cases  of  stricture  of  the  womb,  a 
proper  surgical  operation  is  often  the  means  of  afford- 
ing relief.  We  have  in  several  instances  effected  a  cure 
by  the  application  of  a  galvanic  current  in  cases  of  this 
sort.  Improvement  of  the  general  health,  and  cure  of 
a  local  discharge  due  to  a  vaginal  catarrh,  or  catarrh 
of  the  womb,  is  also  not  infrequently  successful  in  the 
cure  of  sterility. 

Nymphomania.— This  is  a  mental  and  nervous 
affection  in  which  the  patient  is  affected  with  uncon- 
trollable sexual  desires,  which  frequently  lead  to  the 
grossest  breaches  of  modesty.  This  humiliating  dis- 
order is  most  frequently  the  result  of  self-abuse,  and 
allowing  the  mind  to  dwell  without  restriction  upon 
lascivious  thoughts.  It  is  sometimes  the  result  of  ova- 
rian irritation,  and  is  occasionally  observed  in  various 
diseases  of  the  brain. 

Treatment.— Isolation  and  treatment  to  relieve  pel- 
vic congestion,  combined  with  general  tonic  baths  and 
proper  moral  treatment,  are  the  necessary  measures. 
The  prolonged  cool  sitz  (75°  to  70°,  for  twenty  to  thirty 
minutes),  the  neutral  bath,  the  cold  towel  rub,  and  care- 
ful attention  to  the  diet  and  to  the  bowels,  are  effective 
measures. 

Hysterical  Breast. —The  breast  is  painful  to  the 
touch,  and  sometimes  much  swollen.  The  most  fre- 
quent causes  are  disease  of  the  womb  and  ovaries,  self- 
abuse,  and  disorders  of  digestion.  In  one  of  the  worst 
cases  we  ever  met,  in  which  the  breasts  were  exceed- 
ingly sensitive  and  much  swollen,  the  patient  was 
greatly  addicted  to  masturbation.  The  difficulty  disap- 
peared almost  immediately  when  the  habit  was  dis- 
continued. 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  607 

Treatment.— The  following  simple  measures  of 
treatment  will  be  found  valuable  in  this  class  of  cases : 
A  sitz  bath  two  or  three  times  a  week,  at  a  temperature 
of  92°  to  95°.  The  sitz  bath  should  be  followed  by  a 
cool  wet-sheet  rub  and  vigorous  friction.  A  vaginal 
douche  daily  on  arising  in  the  morning,  and  hot  spong- 
ing of  the  spine,  followed  by  a  general  cold  towel  rub, 
will  be  advantageous.  The  patient  should  wear,  dur- 
ing the  night,  a  moist  abdominal  bandage,  consisting 
of  a  coarse  towel  wrung  out  of  cold  water,  dry  enough 
so  that  it  will  not  drip,  and  wound  about  the  body, 
covered  with  several  thicknesses  of  dry  flannel,  suffi- 
cient to  keep  it  warm.  In  the  morning  the  abdominal 
bandage  should  be  removed,  fomentations  should  be 
applied  to  the  spine,  followed  by  the  cold  towel  rub. 
A  dry  flannel  bandage  should  be  worn  during  the  day. 
Allien  the  breast  is  greatly  swollen  and  tender,  a  fomen- 
tation may  be  applied  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  once 
a  day,  followed  by  a  heating  compress,  and  the  breast 
should  be  supported  by  a  properly  adjusted  bandage. 

Painful  Sitting. —The  patient  complains  of  pain 
at  the  extreme  lower  end  of  the  spine  when  sitting 
down  or  when  rising  from  a  sitting  posture.  The  affec- 
tion is  most  frecjuently  found  in  diseased  conditions  of 
the  ovaries,  though  it  is  sometimes  the  result  of  inju- 
ries received  in  childhood,  or  a  fall  in  which  the  force 
of  the  blow  was  received  upon  the  lower  portion  of 
the  spine.  The  affection  is  curable,  though  in  some 
cases  a  surgical  operation  is  required. 

Treatment.— Fomentsitions,  alternate  applications, 
using  for  the  purpose  sponges  dipped  alternately  in 
very  hot  and  very  cold  water,  and  the  local  application 
of  faradic  electricity,  are  of  great  value  in  the  treat- 
ment of  these  cases.    An  effective  bath  is  the  very  hot 


008  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

sitz  (108°  to  118°  for  three  to  eight  minutes),  followed 
by  a  dash  of  cold  water  to  hips  and  legs.  The  hot  foot 
or  leg  bath  and  the  Scotch  douche 'to  the  legs,  are  use- 
ful modes  of  treatment. 

Dyspareunia,  or  Painful  Connection.— This  dis- 
order may  arise  from  a  great  variety  of  causes.  This 
is  undoubtedly  more  frequent  than  is  known  to  physi- 
cians, as  women  often  suffer  in  this  manner  for  years 
without  making  it  known  even  to  their  husbands.  The 
suffering  may  be  the  result  of  fissure  of  the  vagina  or 
rectum,  irritation  of  the  bladder  and  urethra,  vascular 
growths  at  the  mouth  of  the  urethra,  or  sensitive  parts 
about  the  mouth  of  the  vagina.  In  some  cases  it  seems 
to  be  a  purely  nervous  affection.  Nearly  all  cases  are 
curable  by  the  adoption  of  appropriate  means. 

A¥hatever  local  disease  exists  may,  of  course,  be 
removed  by  proper  treatment.  In  some  cases  a  sur- 
gical operation  is  required.  For  the  purpose  of  re- 
moving a  small  growth  from  the  mouth  of  the  urethra 
or  some  tender  point  at  the  orifice  of  the  vagina,  in 
cases  in  which  chronic  ovarian  disease  is  the  cause  of 
the  affection,  it  may  become  necessary  to  remove  the 
diseased  ovaries,  although  cases  of  this  sort  must  be 
quite  rare. 

The  hot  vaginal  douche  and  the  neutral  sitz  (93° 
to  96°),  duration  fifteen  to  thirty  minutes,  give  excel- 
lent results. 

Urethral  Tumors.— The  symptoms  are  smarting, 
burning,  or  cutting  pain,  during  or  after  passing  the 
urine.  Sometimes  the  pain  is  constant.  It  is  gener- 
ally aggravated  by  sexual  connection.  It  is  often  so 
extreme  as  to  render  the  patient's  existence  a  burden, 
and  to  induce  great  impairment  of  the  general  health 
by  the  constant  strain  upon  the  nervous  system.    Local 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  609 

examination  iisually  reveals  a  swollen  condition  of  the 
glands  at  the  mouth  of  the  urethra,  which  is  red  and 
often  obstructed  by  a  slight  vascular  growth  looking 
some  like  a  minute  raspberry,  very  small  in  size.  The 
author  has  met  many  cases  of  this  sort,  but  has  found 
the  adoption  of  proper  measures  of  treatment  effective. 
If  a  tumor  exists,  it  must  be  removed.  The  removal 
of  these  growths  must  be  done  in  a  thorough  manner. 
Their  disposition  to  return  is  so  great  that  some  sur- 
geons of  eminence  have  been  led  to  regard  them  as 
having  a  strong  tendency  to  malignancy.  Quacks  and 
so-called  cancer  specialists  not  infrequently  subject 
patients  to  most  horrible  suffering  by  attempting  to 
remove  these  growths  by  means  of  caustic  pastes,  plas- 
ters, etc.  This  method  is  barbarous,  and  is  no  more 
effective  than  less  painful  and  more  scientific  means, 
and  often  involves  extensive  destruction  of  the  sur- 
rounding parts.  The  proper  mode  of  operating,  m 
these  cases,  is  removal  with  the  galvano-cautery,  the 
Pacquelin  cautery,  or  electrolysis.  Cancer  specialists 
should  be  carefully  avoided.  Any  skilled  surgeon  is 
prepared  to  perform  the  necessary  operation  in  cases 
of  this  sort. 

Bladder  Disorders.— Various  disorders  of  the  blad- 
der are  accompanied  by  frequent  or  painful  passage 
of  urine.  Retention  of  urine,  and  dull,  aching  pain 
after  urination,  are  among  the  most  common  discom- 
forts to  which  women  are  subject  through  local  dis- 
eases. These  are,  in  many  cases,  not  due  to  disease  of 
the  bladder  itself,  but  to  some  irritation  of  the  womb  or 
reflex  irritation  arising  from  disease  of  the  ovaries. 

Treatment.— The  bladder  douche  is  of  great  value 
in  many  cases  of  this  sort,  often  effecting  a  cure  within 
a  short  time,  although  sometimes  it  must  be  employed 


510  PLAIN    FACTS   FOE   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

for  weeks,  or  even  months,  before  a  complete  cure  can 
be  effected.  This  treatment  must,  of  course,  be  em- 
ployed under  the  supervision  of  a  physician  or  a  well- 
trained  nurse.  A  careful  examination  of  the  bladder 
should  be  made  in  all  cases,  as  a  calculus  may  exist,  or 
a  tumor  may  be  present,  growing  from  the  wall  of  the 
bladder.  Complete  relief  may  be  afforded  by  opening 
the  bladder  and  removing  the  tumor.  Calculi  may  be 
removed  by  crushing  without  opening  the  bladder,  al- 
though the  latter  operation  is  by  no  means  so  serious 
or  dangerous  a  proceeding  as  might  be  imagined,  pro- 
viding it  is  performed  by  a  skilled  and  experienced 
surgeon. 

When  the  disease  is  confined  to  the  urethra,  there 
will  often  be  found  some  small  growth  just  within  the 
mouth  of  the  urethra,  or  sometimes  a  fissure  may  be 
observed  by  examination  with  a  proper  instrument. 
Such  cases,  of  course,  require  the  attention  of  a  sur- 
geon, and  generally  yield  very  promptly  to  the  proper 
treatment.  Sometimes  there  seems  to  be  simply  an 
irritability  of  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the  urethra, 
and  the  canal  is  contracted.  Such  cases  are  very  speed- 
ily relieved  by  gradual  dilatation,  as  the  author  has 
verified  in  a  great  number  of  cases.  When  the  bladder 
pain  is  due  to  some  morbid  condition  outside  of  the 
bladder  itself,  the  morbid  condition,  or  whatever  it 
may  be,  must  receive  such  attention  as  is  indicated. 

In  cases  of  obstinate  catarrh  of  the  stomach,  com- 
plete rest  of  the  bladder  for  a  prolonged  period  is 
necessary.  This  is  obtained  by  keeping  the  patient  in 
bed  and  draining  the  bladder  by  means  of  a  self- 
retaining  catheter. 

The  hot  vaginal  douche  is  wonderfully  helpful  in 
a  great  many  cases,  as  is  also  the  hot  bladder  douche. 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  611 

The  temperature  should  be,  for  the  bladder  douche, 
100°  at  the  start,  gradually  increasing  during  the  appli- 
cation to  120°  F.  Apply  daily  or  twice  daily,  if  nec- 
essarj^  Add  to  the  water  at  end  of  the  douche,  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  salt  and  the  same  amount  of  borax  for 
each  quart  of  sterilized  water. 

Constipation. — Perhaps  the  majority  of  women 
are  more  or  less  afflicted  with  constipation.  This  may 
be  due  to  sedentary  habits,  as  well  as  the  use  of  con- 
centrated food  and  irregularity  in  attention  to  the  calls 
of  nature.  Most  persons  suffering  in  this  way  become 
more  or  less  habituated  to  the  use  of  laxatives  of  vari- 
ous sorts,  the  tendency  of  which  is  to  aggravate  the 
disorder,  if  long  continued. 

Constipation  is  one  of  the  most  prolific  causes  of 
misplacements,  and  of  congestions  and  inflammations 
of  the  womb  and  ovaries,  and  frequently  gives  rise  to 
very  serious  local  troubles.  When  present,  this  con- 
dition is  an  adequate  cause  for  anxiety,  and  should 
receive  prompt  attention.  By  regularity  of  habits, 
proper  diet,  and  such  other  means  as  have  been  recom- 
mended elsewhere  in  this  work,  the  aifection  is  wholly 
curable. 

Chlorosis,  or  Green  Sickness.— The  chief  char- 
acteristics of  this  disorder  are  the  discoloration  of  the 
skin  and  absence  of  the  menses.  The  condition  occurs 
most  frequently  about  the  time  of  puberty,  or  just 
afterward.  It  is  not  due,  as  many  suppose,  to  the 
suppression  of  the  menses,  but  to  a  morbid  condition 
of  the  system,  which  is  itself  the  cause  of  deficient 
activity  of  the  sexual  organs.  This  disorder  is  not 
infrequently  the  result  of  self-abuse.  The  cause  must 
be  sought  for  and  removed.  When  this  is  accomplished, 
nature  will  usually  effect  a  cure  within  a  short  time. 


612  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Treatment.— Tlie  successful  treatment  of  this  con- 
dition consists  chiefly  in  the  application  of  such  means 
as  will  restore  the  general  health  of  the  patient.  Not 
infrequently  indigestion  and  the  resulting  disturbances 
of  nutrition,  impoverishment  of  the  blood,  etc.,  will 
be  found  to  be  the  real  cause  of  the  disease.  In  such 
cases,  special  attention  must  be  given  to  improvement 
of  the  digestive  process  by  a  careful  adaptation  of  the 
food  to  the  patient's  condition.  These  patients  are 
generally  suffering  from  hypopepsia,  as  we  have  found 
by  a  careful  study  of  the  stomach  fluid  in  a  large  num- 
ber of  cases. 

It  was  formerly  supposed  that  the  blood,  in  case  of 
chlorosis,  might  be  enriched  by  the  administration  of 
iron,  the  iron  directly  aiding  in  the  formation  of  blood 
corpuscles;  but  it  is  now  quite  well  established  that 
iron  cannot  be  directly  assimilated,  but  aids  in  these 
cases  only  as  it  may  aid  some  process  in  the  digestive 
canal.  An  examination  of  the  stomach  fluid  should 
be  made  in  every  case,  when  possible,  as  this  is  the 
only  means  by  which  a  sound  basis  for  treatment  can 
be  found. 

Improvement  of  the  general  health  is  one  of  the 
principal  things  to  be  aimed  at  in  treatment.  As  an 
aid  to  improvement  in  nutrition,  the  following  simple 
means  will  be  found  advantageous :  At  10  a.  m.  every 
morning,  the  spine  of  the  patient  should  be  sponged 
for  fifteen  minutes  with  water  as  hot  as  can  be  borne. 
Fomentations  should  be  at  the  same  time  applied  over 
the  region  of  the  stomach  and  liver.  At  the  conclusion 
of  the  treatment,  general  perspiration  will  be  found 
present.  The  whole  surface  of  the  body  should  be 
quickly  sponged  with  cold  water,  taking  care  to  keep 
the  patient  covered,  so  as  to  avoid  chilling,  quickly 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  613 

rubbing  and  drying  each  portion  bathed  before  pro- 
ceeding to  another  part.  The  cold  towel  rub  or  wet- 
sheet  rub  are  also  to  be  recommended.  After  a  bath, 
the  patient  should  be  rubbed  with  oil,  and  should 
take  exercise  out-of-doors.  Walking,  horseback-rid- 
ing, or  bicycle-riding  are  excellent  exercises  for  these 
cases. 

Lacerations  at  Childbirth.— The  most  common  of 
all  injuries  received  at  childbirth  are  tears  or  lacera- 
tions of  the  neck  of  the  womb  or  the  perineum.  Thou- 
sands of  women  are  suffering  from  the  results  of 
injuries  of  this  sort,  without  being  aware  of  their  con- 
dition. Tears  of  the  womb  are  often  mistakenly  treated 
as  ''ulcerations."  The  only  way  in  which  a  radical 
cure  can  be  effected  is  by  a  proper  surgical  operation, 
which  in  the  hands  of  a  skilful  surgeon  is  attended  by 
little  pain,  and  is  radically  curative  in  its  effects. 
Slight  lacerations  do  not  require  an  operation;  but 
where  a  tear  exists  of  sufficient  extent  to  give  rise  to 
constant  irritation,  the  latter  cannot  be  permanently 
removed  hj  other  means  than  an  operation.  This  re- 
mark applies  to  injuries  of  the  womb.  In  tears  of  the 
perineum,  whether  an  operation  is  required  or  not, 
depends  upon  the  condition  of  the  vagina  and  the  parts. 
If  greatly  relaxed,  so  that  a  rectocele  exists,  with  pro- 
lapsus of  the  womb  or  ovaries,  or  both,  an  operation 
is  likely  to  be  beneficial. 

We  ought  not  to  leave  this  subject  without  remark- 
ing that  quite  a  large  proportion  of  patients  who  are 
supposed  to  be  suffering  from  laceration  requiring  re- 
pair by  a  surgical  operation,  are  not  really  suffering 
from  laceration,  but  from  other  difficulties  existing  in 
connection  with  it.  Prolapse  of  the  stomach  and  bowels, 
a  floating  or  movable  kidney,  or  some  kindred  disorder, 


t)14  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

will,  in  a  large  proportion  of  these  cases,  be  found  to 
be  the  real  source  or  cause  of  the  patient's  suffering, 
and  complete  relief  will  be  afforded  by  attention  to 
these  conditions.  (See  treatment  recommended  for 
''Prolapsus,  or  Falling  of  the  Womb,"  and  ''Other 
Forms  of  Displacement.") 

Vesico-  and  Recto- Vaginal  Fistulae.— In  cases  of 
difficult  and  prolonged  childbirth,  the  septum  between 
the  rectum  and  the  vagina  is  sometimes  injured  to  such 
an  extent  that  a  rupture  occurs,  and  an  opening  is 
formed  between  the  bladder  and  the  rectum  into  the 
canal.  This  opening  may  be  made  to  close  up,  in  many 
instances,  by  frequent  and  prolonged  vaginal  injec- 
tions with  hot  water;  but  this  measure  is  generally 
insufficient,  and  a  permanent  opening  is  formed,  caus- 
ing much  inconvenience  and  suffering,  sometimes  pro- 
ducing a  most  loathsome,  repulsive  condition.  The 
only  cure  for  these  cases  is  through  a  surgical  opera- 
tion, which  can  be  performed  without  risk  to  life,  and 
with  little  or  no  suffering  on  the  part  of  the  patient, 
by  a  surgeon  who  is  skilled  and  experienced  in  this 
class  of  cases.  There  is  no  operation  a  surgeon  is 
called  upon  to  perform  in  which  the  results  are  more 
satisfactory  than  this. 

Tumors  of  the  Womb.— The  worst  morbid  growths 
to  which  the  womb  is  subjected  are  polypus  and  fibroid 
tumors.  Polypi  seldom  attain  a  large  size.  They  are 
usually  attached  to  some  portion  of  the  canal  of  the 
womb,  sometimes  by  long,  slender  pedicles.  In  a  case 
recently  operated  upon  by  the  author,  the  tumor  itself 
was  not  larger  than  a  bean,  but  was  attached  by  a  pedi- 
cle nearly  six  inches  in  length. 

The  proper  treatment  of  these  growths  is  removal. 
It  is  usually  necessary  to  treat  the  point  from  which 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  615 

the  tumor  is  taken  by  means  of  the  galvanic  cautery, 
chromic  acid,  or  some  other  escharotic. 

Fibroid  tumors  frequently  cause  profuse  hemor- 
rhage from  the  womb.  The  menses  gradually  grow 
more  frequent  and  profuse,  until  after  a  time  the 
hemorrhage  becomes  nearly  continuous.  This  class 
of  tumors  can  usuall}^  be  removed  only  by  means  of 
a  surgical  operation.  Occasionally,  however,  when 
they  develop  on  the  inner  surface  of  the  womb,  they 
are  cast  off  by  the  efforts  of  nature. 

Treatment.— The  idea  was  formerly  maintained, 
that  the  only  thing  to  be  done  for  these  cases  was  to 
carry  the  patient  along  in  some  way  until  after  the 
completion  of  the  change  of  life,  when  it  was  supposed 
that  the  tumor  would  almost  certainlj^  disappear,  but 
more  recent  experience  shows  this  to  be  an  error. 
There  are  certain  forms  of  fibroid  growths  of  the  womb 
which  do  disappear  in  most  cases  at  or  after  the  men- 
opause; but  there  are  other  forms  of  the  disease  in 
which  the  growth  continues,  and  sometimes  even  with 
greater  rapidity  after  the  menopause  than  before.  It 
should  be  remarked,  also,  that  even  in  the  most  favor- 
able cases,  the  patient  is  often  subjected  for  so  long 
a  time  to  periodical  losses  of  blood  that  the  general 
health  is  completely  ruined,  and  sometimes  the  system 
is  so  weakened  that  consumption  or  some  other  grave 
constitutional  malady  supervenes,  and  the  patient  dies 
before  nature  has  had  an  opportunity  to  effect  a  cure 
by  the  atrophic  changes  which  naturally  occur  at  the 
menopause.  The  old  idea  that  these  cases  should  be 
left  to  nature,  with  the  employment  of  only  palliative 
means,  is  a  fallacy  which  no  scientific  physician  who 
is  fully  abreast  of  the  progress  which  has  been  made 
in  recent  times,  would  for  a  moment  tolerate. 


616  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

Active  treatment  should  be  instituted  in  every  case 
in  which  the  patient  is  suffering  an  excessive  loss  of 
blood,  pain,  or  inconvenience  at  the  menstrual  period, 
or  in  which  a  tumor  is  rapidly  growing. 

The  prolonged  cool  sitz  (75°  to  65°  for  ten  to  twenty 
minutes),  the  hot  douche,  using  a  saturated  solution 
of  alum,  and  other  measures  suggested  for  uterine 
hemorrhage,  are  the  proper  means. 

In  persistent  cases,  a  surgical  operation  is  required 
for  removal  of  the  tumor  or  to  limit  its  growth  by 
ligation  of  the  nourishing  arteries.  These  operations 
are  quite  safe  in  the  hands  of  a  thoroughly  competent 
abdominal  surgeon. 

Cancer  of  the  Womb.— This  malady  is  in  ninety- 
nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred  the  result  of  a  neglected 
tear  of  the  neck  of  the  womb.  It  is  important  that 
this  fact  be  generally  known,  and  it  should  impel  per- 
sons suffering  with  a  tear  of  this  sort  received  at  child- 
birth, to  apply  to  a  competent  surgeon  for  the  neces- 
sary operation.  Cancer  is  most  successfully  treated 
by  prevention.  It  is  undoubtedly  true,  however,  that 
in  many  cases  the  disease  in  its  early  stages  may  be 
long  postponed,  and  sometimes  entirely  eradicated,  by 
operation.  The  presence  of  this  disease  is  indicated 
by  local  pain,  a  bloody  and  offensive  discharge,  great 
and  rapid  failure  of  the  general  health,  disturbances 
of  the  digestion,  etc.  Death  usually  occurs  within  two 
or  three  years  of  its  commencement.  Its  progress  may, 
however,  be  greatly  delayed  by  the  use  of  appropriate 
medicines;  hence  patients  suffering  in  this  way  should 
not  be  abandoned,  but  should  receive  the  attention  of 
a  skilled  surgeon.  In  some  cases  a  curative  operation 
is  possible.  It  is  highly  important,  however,  for  the 
success  of  operation  in  these  cases,  that  the  disease  be 


DISEASES   PECULIAR   TO    WOMEN  617 

discovered  at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  and  the 
operation  performed  at  once,  before  the  infection  has 
extended  to  the  adjacent  tissues  and  organs. 

Deficient  Development  of  the  Womb  and  Ovaries. 
—This  condition  is  indicated  by  the  failure  of  the  men- 
strual period  to  make  its  appearance  at  the  proper  age, 
sometimes  a  masculine  appearance  of  the  patient,  and 
frequently  a  slight  growth  of  hair  upon  the  upper  lip. 
Cases  of  this  sort  require  very  skilful  management,  and 
should  not  be  neglected.  No  good  can  be  derived  from 
the  use  of  medicines  of  any  sort,  but  such  methods  of 
treatment  should  be  adopted  as  will  improve  the  gen- 
eral nutrition,  upon  which  the  disorder  depends. 

Ovarian  Tumor.— This  condition,  sometimes  known 
as  ovarian  dropsy,  was  formerly  regarded  as  an  utterly 
hopeless  malady;  but  it  may  be  cured  by  removal  of 
the  diseased  ovary,  with  the  morbid  growth  which  has 
developed.  This  operation,  known  as  ovariotomy,  is 
one  of  the  greatest  triumphs  of  modern  surgery.  The 
cyst  sometimes  attains  enormous  size.  The  danger  to 
life  from  the  operation  is  greatly  increased,  by  great 
size,  and  by  the  inflammation  excited  by  the  pressure 
to  which  the  surrounding  tissues  are  subjected,  often 
causing  adhesion  to  the  abdominal  walls.  It  was  for- 
merly supposed  that  operation  in  these  cases  should 
be  deferred  until  the  tumor  had  acquired  considerable 
size;  but  it  is  now  generally  considered  that  it  should 
be  performed  as  early  as  possible,  and  ]3atients  man- 
aged in  this  way  are  almost  certain  to  recover. 

For  the  best  results  in  these  cases,  it  is  necessary 
that  the  patient  should  be  operated  upon  in  a  well- 
equipped  and  skilfully  managed  hospital,  by  a  compe- 
tent and  experienced  surgeon,  skilled  in  this  particular 
line  of  surgical  work.    The  patient  must  be  eared  for 


618  PLAIN    FACTS    TOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

by  a  well-trained  nurse,  experienced  in  the  care  of  this 
class  of  cases.  Under  such  favorable  conditions,  the 
mortality  of  this  operation,  which  was  formerly  from 
twenty  to  forty  per  cent,  may  be  reduced  to  two  or 
three  per  cent,  or  even  less.  An  eminent  London  sur- 
geon has  had  a  series  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  ovari- 
otomies without  a  single  death,  and  an  American  sur- 
geon has  even  exceeded  this  record,  having  performed 
the  operation  of  ovariotomy  for  removal  of  ovarian 
tumors  and  diseased  ovaries  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
two  times  in  succession,  without  losing  a  single  case. 
Women  suffering  from  a  condition  requiring  this 
operation  should  not  postpone  the  operation  through 
dread  of  it,  since  delay  often  complicates  the  case  very 
greatly,  and  renders  the  performance  of  the  operation 
much  more  difficult,  and  also  greatly  increases  the  at- 
tendant risk. 

Stricture  of  the  Neck  of  the  Womb.— Constric- 
tion of  some  portion  of  the  neck  of  the  womb  is  a  not 
infrequent  condition.  The  constriction  is  usually  lo- 
cated at  the  inner  end  of  the  canal,  though  it  may  occur 
at  any  point.  The  usual  symptom  is  pain  at  the  men- 
strual period,  and  catarrh  is  sometimes  present  in  the 
latter  condition,  when  produced  by  other  causes.  This 
malady  may  be  remedied  by  a  proper  surgical  opera- 
tion. 

Floating  Tumor.— A  movable  tumor,  usually  a  lit- 
tle larger  than  the  egg  of  a  goose,  sometimes  exists  in 
women  who  have  borne  children  in  rapid  succession, 
especially  women  of  small  size  who  have  borne  very 
large  children.  It  is  usually  found  upon  the  right  side, 
and  by  lying  upon  the  back  it  may  disappear,  or  be 
pressed  up  under  the  ribs,  but  falls  down  again  as 
soon  as  the  vertical  position  is  assumed.    The  movable 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  619 

body  consists  of  a  kidney  which,  with  its  attachments, 
has  become  loosened  from  its  usual  position  at  the  back 
of  the  abdominal  cavity.  Owing  to  this  fact,  the  tumor 
is  sometimes  known  as  floating  kidney.  A  radical  cure 
cannot  be  effected,  either  by  surgical  means  or  medical 
treatment,  but  great  relief  will  be  afforded  the  patient 
by  the  wearing  of  a  proper  abdominal  supporter. 

A  condition  known  as  movable  kidney,  in  which  the 
mobility  of  the  organ  is  less  than  in  floating  kidney,  is 
very  common  among  civilized  women.  It  is  found,  in 
fact,  in  fully  twenty-five  per  cent  of  all  adult  women 
whose  mode  of  dressing  has  been  in  accordance  with 
the  conventional  usage  of  civilized  women.  This  con- 
dition of  the  kidney  is  often  more  painful  than  floating 
kidney.  The  measures  of  treatment  required  are  the 
same,  though  an  operation  is  seldom  needed.  The  res- 
toration of  the  tone  of  the  abdominal  muscles  by  proper 
exercise,  and  the  application  of  massage  and  electricity, 
will  usually  effect  a  cure,  or,  at  any  rate,  relieve  the 
patient  from  the  distress  due  to  the  drag  upon  the 
sjTnpathetic  nerve  consequent  upon  the  pendant  con- 
dition of  the  kidney,  which  receives  branches  from  the 
solar  plexus  and  other  portions  of  the  great  sympa- 
thetic. The  writer  has  often  seen  the  kidney  drawn 
up  into  place  at  once  by  placing  the  patient  in  a  cor- 
rect standing  or  sitting  poise,  the  abdominal  muscles 
being  well  drawn  in. 

Relaxed  Abdomen.— The  relaxed  condition  of  the 
abdominal  wall  frequently  present  in  women  who  have 
borne  a  number  of  children,  and  in  which  the  abdomi- 
nal walls  have  been  greatly  distended  during  preg- 
nancy, is  often  not  only  a  source  of  great  inconvenience, 
but  a  cause  of  serious  disease.  The  abdominal  walls 
normally  support  themselves  in  position ;  but  when  thus 


620  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

distended,  they  allow  the  stomach  and  intestines  to 
fall  into  the  lower  portion  of  the  abdominal  cavity, 
thus  bringing  pressure  upon  the  pelvic  organs,  which 
in  turn  become  displaced,  and  otherwise  diseased. 
Tight-lacing  or  the  wearing  of  heavy  skirts  suspended 
from  the  waist,  and  the  wearing  of  corsets,  are  very 
common  predisposing  causes  of  this  condition. 

Treatment.— The  measures  of  treatment  suggested 
for  the  relief  of  ''prolapsus,"  or  "falling  of  the 
womb,"  and  other  forms  of  displacement,  are  appli- 
cable to  this  condition,  although,  of  course,  no  surgical 
measures  are  required.  A^i  abdominal  supporter 
should  be  worn,  and  measures  to  strengthen  the  ab- 
dominal muscles  are  needed. 

Imperforate  Hymen.— Through  overdevelopment, 
the  hymen  is  sometimes  imperforate,  thus  retaining 
the  menstrual  flow,  and  producing  the  appearance  of 
delayed  menstruation,  when  the  function  is  really 
properly  performed,  the  menstrual  flow  accumulating 
within  the  cavity  of  the  womb  or  vagina.  These  cases 
of  course  require  the  services  of  a  surgeon.  A  condi- 
tion much  more  frequent  than  the  foregoing,  is  one  in 
which  the  hymen,  while  not  imperforate,  is  developed 
to  such  an  extent  that  the  vaginal  orifice  is  nearly 
closed,  and  the  membrane  sufficiently  firm  and  unyield- 
ing to  present  an  obstacle  to  coitus,  requiring  the  serv- 
ices of  a  surgeon,  though  occasioning  no  difficulty  be- 
fore marriage. 

Tumor  of  the  Breast.— The  most  common  tumors 
of  the  breast  are  fibrous,  encysted  growths.  These 
growths  are  usually  attended  by  more  or  less  pain, 
but  are  not  dangerous  to  life,  and  rarely  if  ever  develop 
into  cancer.  Sometimes,  however,  they  occasion  so 
much  distress  that  a  surgical  operation  is  necessary.^ 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    WOMEN  621 

This  should  always  be  performed  when  there  is  the 
slightest  ground  for  believing  that  it  may  be  malig- 
nant in  character.  It  is  important  that  cases  of  this 
sort  should  receive  attention,  even  though  the  growth 
may  not  be  large  nor  painful.  The  tumor  should  be 
removed  as  soon  as  discovered,  since  these  morbid 
growths  not  infrequently  constitute  the  seat  of  malig- 
nant disease. 

Cancer  of  the  Breast.— This  formidable  disease 
seems  to  be  rapidly  increasing  in  frequency,  notwith- 
standing the  great  number  of  ' '  sure  cures ' '  which  have 
been  so  largely  advertised  during  the  last  century. 
The  symptoms  of  cancer  of  the  breast  are  hard  and 
painful  swelling  in  the  breasts,  causing,  when  some- 
what advanced,  retraction  of  the  nipple.  These 
growths  ar.e  much  more  painful  than  those  described 
under  the  above  head,  ''Tumor  of  the  Breast."  The 
proper  treatment  consists  of  thorough  removal  of  the 
affected  parts  by  operation.  This  method  is  wholly 
superior  to  any  of  the  forms  of  plasters  and  caustics 
which  are  usually  employed  by  the  so-called  cancer 
doctors. 

The  efficacy  of  the  methods  employed  by  cancer 
doctors  is  greatly  overestimated  by  the  public,  the 
majority  of  the  cases  operated  upon  hj  them  being 
growths  of  a  simple  character,  which  never  would  have 
done  any  harm  if  left  alone,  and  would  not  have  re- 
turned, whatever  method  had  been  employed  in  their 
removal. 

Hysteria.— From  the  most  remote  ages  of  medical 
history,  this  disease  has  been  regarded  as  intimately 
connected  with  morbid  states  of  the  female  organs  of 
generation,  especially  the  uterus.  That  it  is  not  ex- 
clusively produced  by  causes  ot  this  kind,  is  evidenced 

37 


622  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

by  the  fact  that  men  also  sometimes  suffer  from  this 
curious  malady.  The  phases  which  it  assumes  are  so 
numerous  that  we  shall  not  attempt  an  accurate  de- 
scription of  it;  neither  is  this  required,  as  there  are 
few  who  are  not  familiar  with  its  peculiar  manifesta- 
tions. It  simulates  almost  every  disease.  Even  con- 
sumption and  other  formidable  maladies  have  been  so 
completely  simulated  by  this  disorder  as  to  deceive 
physicians  of  long  experience. 

The  foundation  of  this  disease  is  almost  always  laid 
in  some  indiscretion  by  means  of  which  disease  of  the 
uterus  or  ovaries  is  induced.  Not  infrequently  it  is 
the  result  of  self -abuse.  The  disease  should  not  be  re- 
garded as  a  trivial  matter,  wholly  the  result  of  a  dis- 
eased imagination,  and  requiring  only  mental  treat- 
ment, since  it  is  a  real  malady,  dependent  upon  morbid 
states  of  the  system.  It  requires  substantial  and  thor- 
ough treatment,  as  much  as  rheumatism,  dyspepsia, 
or  any  other  of  the  numerous  diseases  to  which  human- 
ity is  subject.  Persons  suffering  in  this  way  usually 
have  low  vitality,  a  great  loss  of  nerve  tone,  excessive 
irritability,  and  deficient  will-power.  They  should  be 
taught  that  by  the. exercise  of  sufficient  will-power,  the 
peculiar  manifestations  of  the  disease  may  be  con- 
trolled. 

A  warm  sitz  bath,  a  daily  hot  vaginal  douche,  daily 
hot  fomentations  to  the  spine,  followed  by  a  cool  towel 
rub,  are  measures  which  will  often  be  found  of  great 
service  in  these  cases.  Vigorous  muscular  exercise  is 
also  a  curative  means  of  great  value.  We  have  fre- 
quently recommended  swimming  for  patients  of  this 
class,  with  excellent  results. 


SCIENCE  TRIMS  THE  LAMP  OF  LIFE 


623 


DISEASES  PECULIAR  TO  MEN 


OP  that  quite  numerous  class  of  maladies  which 
are  peculiar  to  the  male  sex,  by  far  the  great 
majority  are  the  result  of  some  form  of  trans- 
gression of  sexual  law.  The  nature  of  these  trans- 
gressions has  been  fully  discussed  in  previous  portions 
of  this  work,  and  what  has  already  been  said  need  not 
be  reiterated  here.  The  object  of  this  chapter  is  to 
describe  in  greater  detail  than  has  been  done  in  other 
portions  of  the  work,  the  nature  and  sjanptoms  of  the 
various  diseases  of  the  male  sexual  organs. 

The  intimate  association  of  all  the  various  impor- 
tant functions  of  the  body  through  the  means  of  re- 
flex nervous  activity,  lays  the  foundation  for  that  pro- 
found and  extensive  influence  upon  the  system  at  large 
which  is  observed  to  result  from  nearly  all  forms  of 
sexual  disease.  It  is,  indeed,  a  common  observation 
that  local  disorders  so  slight  in  character  as  to  produce 
little  or  no  inconvenience  at  the  seat  of  disease,  pro- 
voke, through  morbid  reflex  influence,  derangements 
of  the  most  serious  and  often  most  distressing  char- 
acter in  other  portions  of  the  body.  Thus  we  not  in- 
frequently find,  as  the  result  of  a  slight  irritability  of 
the  prostatic  urethra,  nervous  debility,  dyspepsia, 
emaciation,  and  a  great  variety  of  other  marked  and 
distressing  symptoms.  This  fact  emphasizes  the  im- 
portance of  giving  to  this  class  of  disorders  careful 
and  thorough  attention.  Quite  frequently  they  are 
overlooked  or  neglected,  even  for  years.    Perhaps  the 

625 


626  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

patient,  through  ignorance,  imagines  the  symptoms  to 
be  of  little  consequence,  and  thinks  that  they  will  pass 
away  without  special  attention;  or  it  may  be  that  he 
is  deterred  by  shame  or  false  modesty  from  communi- 
cating the  facts  of  his  condition  to  his  medical  adviser, 
and  thus  a  disorder  which  at  the  beginning  might 
have  been  promptly  corrected  by  the  employment  of 
the  simplest  measures,  or  perhaps  would  have  required 
nothing  more  than  a  few  words  of  good  advice,  by  long 
continuance  acquires  a  chronic  form,  and  through  the 
occurrence  of  tissue  changes,  becomes  so  thoroughly 
fixed  that  the  most  skilful  and  persevering  treatment 
is  necessary  to  effect  its  removal. 

The  popular  idea  that  time  cures  most  diseases,  is 
erroneous.  The  fact  is,  time  does  not  cure.  Nature 
cures,  but  time  kills.  Such  acute  maladies  as  active 
congestion,  fevers,  inflammations,  and  the  like,  pass 
through  a  regular  cycle  of  changes,  and  by  the  unaided 
efforts  of  nature,  will  usually  end  in  recovery.  Chronic 
maladies,  on  the  other  hand,  to  which  belong  most  sex- 
ual diseases,  are  of  a  different  character.  Chronic 
disease  tends  almost  invariably  to  the  production  of 
changes  in  the  tissues  which  serve  to  propagate  and 
intensify  the  disorder,  thus  leading  farther  and  farther 
away  from  the  standard  of  health. 

The  difference  between  acute  and  chronic  disorders 
has  been  very  aptly  compared  to  that  between  a 
straight  line  and  a  circle.  One  traveling  a  circle, 
sooner  or  later  arrives  at  the  starting-point.  This  is 
the  course  of  an  acute  disease.  One  who  travels  in  a 
straight  line,  is  continually  increasing  the  distance 
between  himself  and  the  starting-point.  This  is  the 
course  of  a  chronic  disease.  We  wish  to  protest  against 
the  popular  fallacy  referred  to,  which  leads  hundreds 


DISEASES    PECULIAR   TO    MEN  627 

to  delay  giving  proper  attention  to  the  morbid  symp- 
toms wliieli  tliey  experience,  until  so  grave  a  condition 
is  readied  that  recovery  is  impossible. 

We  do  not  wish  to  produce  unnecessary  alarm  or 
anxiety  on  the  part  of  any,  and  would  discourage  in 
the  most  emphatic  manner  that  morbid  seeking  after 
symptoms  and  dwelling  upon  and  exaggerating  every 
little  deviation  from  the  natural  condition  of  the  body, 
which  is  common  among  those  who  are  siiffering  with 
maladies  of  the  class  considered  in  this  chapter.  In 
consequence,  thousands  of  those  who  are  suffering  with 
the  slightest  ailments,  imagine  themselves  to  be  much 
worse  than  they  are.  Great  harm  is  done  by  those 
who  unscrupulously  take  advantage  of  the  ignorance 
and  inexperience  of  these  sufferers,  and  thereby  pro- 
duce, not  only  unnecessary  alarm  and  distress,  but  an 
actual  aggravation  of  the  slight  disorders  from 
which  they  are  suffering. 

We  cannot,  in  this  chapter,  consider  the  entire  cate- 
gory of  diseases  to  which  men  are  peculiarly  liable, 
but  shall  confine  our  remarks  to  those  maladies  which 
are  of  most  common  occurrence,  and  information  con- 
cerning which  will  be  likely  to  be  of  the  greatest  value. 
As  previously  stated,  this  work  does  not  permit  us  to 
enter  into  the  details  of  medical  treatment  which,  in 
these  disorders,  may  often  be  best  left  in  the  hands 
of  a  competent  physician ;  or  when  they  may  be  chiefly 
administered  by  the  patient  himself,  should  be  directed 
by  one  whose  study  and  experience  have  fitted  him  to 
modify  and  adapt  to  each  individual  case  the  general 
principles  of  treatment  which  have  been  elsewhere  laid 
down. 

The  principal  object  in  presenting  this  chapter  has 
been  to  thoroughly  acquaint  the  reader  with  the  signs 


628  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

of  disease  in  the  portions  of  the  body  considered,  and 
the  consequences  of  neglecting  to  give  timely  and  thor- 
ough attention  to  these  disorders  before,  by  long  con- 
tinuance, they  become  difficult  of  eradication,  if  not 
wholly  incurable. 

Spermatorrhea.— Used  in  its  most  general  sense, 
this  term  applies  to  all  forms  of  disease  of  the  sexual 
organs  accompanied  by  involuntary  seminal  losses.  In 
a  more  technical  sense,  it  relates  only  to  a  condition 
in  which  there  is  an  unconscious  escape  of  the  seminal 
fluid  connected  with  the  passage  of  urine  or  movement 
of  the  bowels.  It  is  in  the  latter  sense  that  the  term 
is  here  used.  This  disease  is  not  so  frequent  as  has 
been  supposed  by  many;  and  on  the  other  hand,  it  is 
not  so  rare  an  affection  as  many  medical  writers  have 
seemed  to  think.  There  are  those  who  claim  to  believe 
that  the  disease  occurs  so  infrequently  that  it  is  scarcely 
worthy  to  be  considered  a  distinct  disorder.  After 
carefully  investigating  several  hundred  cases  of  dis- 
eases peculiar  to  men,  we  have  come  to  believe  that  it  is 
by  no  means  so  rare  a  disease  as  is  generally  supposed 
to  be  the  case,  having  determined  the  presence  of  sper- 
matozoa by  microscopical  examination  in  a  large  num- 
ber of  cases  in  which  a  discharge  occurred  after  uri- 
nating or  while  straining  at  stool. 

Symptoms.— The  leading  symptoms  of  true  sper- 
matorrhea are  headache;  dulness  of  intellect;  loss  of 
power  to  concentrate  the  mind;  defective  memory; 
occasionally,  partial  deafness ;  roaring  in  the  ears ;  gid- 
diness ;  spots  before  the  eyes ;  blurring  of  vision ;  short 
breath;  sensation  of  weight  or  stricture  in  the  chest; 
various  forms  of  dyspepsia,  such  as  sour  stomach,  or 
heaviness  at  the  stomach;  sleepiness  after  meals;  con- 
stipation of  the  bowels;  dry  skin;  abnormal  sensitive- 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  629 

ness  of  the  skin ;  crawling,  tingling,  and  other  peculiar 
sensations  of  the  arms  or  legs;  twitching  of  the  mus- 
cles ;  pressure  in  the  back  of  the  head ;  weakness  of  the 
eyes ;  general  stiffness  in  the  muscles,  and  lack  of  mus- 
cular vigor;  backache,  especially  in  the  lower  portion 
of  the  back,  in  the  morning,  or  after  muscular  effort, 
great  depression  of  spirits;  melancholy;  sometimes  a 
disposition  to  commit  suicide;  insanity;  unsteadiness 
of  gait ;  severe  pains  in  various  parts  of  the  body ;  flush- 
ing of  the  face;  palpitation;  loss  of  flesh;  tenderness 
of  the  spine;  pain  in  one  side;  impotence;  numbness, 
coldness,  and  other  abnormal  sensations  of  the  sexual 
organs,  which  are  likely  to  be  in  a  relaxed  and  shrunken 
condition,  and  of  a  bluish  color;  pain  in  the  spermatic 
cord,  and  sometimes  in  the  groin,  and  also  at  times  a 
dragging  pain  in  the  testicles,  which  are  sometimes 
tender;  smarting  or  burning  sensations  when  passing 
urine  or  afterward;  a  troublesome  dribbling  after  re- 
lieving the  bladder ;  unnatural  excitability  of  the  parts ; 
twitching  of  the  muscles  at  the  fork  of  the  thighs; 
frequent  or  involuntary  erections ;  epilepsy ;  paralysis ; 
sjTnptoms  of  consumption.  Lastly,  as  a  symptom  char- 
acteristic of  this  disease,  we  should  mention  the  escape 
of  a  whitish  fluid  in  greater  or  less  quantities  after 
passing  urine  or  straining  at  stool. 

In  the  majority  of  these  cases  there  is  to  be  found 
an  exceedingly  irritable  condition  of  the  prostatic 
urethra,  and,  indeed,  not  infrequently  of  the  whole 
urethral  canal.  This  may  be  discovered  by  passing 
the  finger  into  the  rectum,  and  pressing  against  the 
prostate  gland  and  the  tissues  just  in  front  of  it.  In 
severe  cases,  a  pressure  upon  the  perineum  and  the 
under  surface  of  the  penis,  close  to  the  body,  will  show 
exquisite  tenderness  of  these  parts.    An  intense  burn- 


630  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

ing  or  smarting  on  passing  urine  is  frequently  present, 
indicating  the  same  condition. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  all  the  above  symp- 
toms are  present  in  any  one  case ;  but  a  large  majority 
will  be  found  in  well-pronounced  cases  of  this  disorder. 
Sometimes  stricture  may  be  present. 

Spermatorrhea  sometimes  exists,  not  as  a  primary 
disease,  but  as  a  symptom  of  some  other  disorder.  It  is 
frequently  present  in  extreme  cases  of  nervous  exhaus- 
tion, in  convalescence  from  fever,  the  debility  arising 
from  pulmonary  consumption,  and  in  some  cases  of 
hemorrhoids  or  other  forms  of  rectal  disease. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  the  tendency  to  this  dis- 
ease may  be  inherited.  It  is  unquestionably  true  that 
some  persons  are  much  more  liable  to  the  disorder  than 
those  who  do  not  possess  the  peculiar  predisposing  ex- 
citability which  is  so  often  present  in  this  class  of 
cases. 

False  Spermatorrhea. —It  must  not  be  supposed 
that  true  spermatorrhea  exists  in  every  case  in  which 
a  slight  discharge  is  noticed  when  straining  at  stool 
or  after  urinating.  Probably  the  majority  of  cases  in 
which  this  symptom  occurs,  though  requiring  serious 
attention,  do  not  properly  belong  in  this  category.  A 
slight  discharge  of  this  kind  is  a  very  common  result  of 
an  incompletely  cured  gonorrhea  or  gleet.  Not  infre- 
quently, when  a  discharge  of  this  kind  has  existed  pre- 
viously, and  has  been  apparently  cured,  excessive  sex- 
ual indulgence,  taking  cold,  a  constipated  condition  of 
the  bowels,  or  a  concentrated  and  irritating  condition 
of  the  urine,  may  cause  it  to  reappear.  The  discharge 
usually  indicates  a  diseased  condition  of  the  urethra, 
any  portion  of  which  may  be  affected,  though  the  pros- 
tatic portion  is  by  far  the  most  likely  to  be  the  part 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  631 

diseased.  In  some  cases,  however,  the  difficulty  is  lo- 
cated in  the  vesicula  seminalis,  the  lining  membrane 
of  which,  like  other  portions  of  the  urethral  and  genital 
passages,  is  subject  to  catarrh  as  the  result  of  cold, 
undue  sexual  excitement,  or  contiguous  inflammation. 

Among  the  sad  results  of  spermatorrhea,  is  stric- 
ture. This  severe  and  painful  disorder  most  commonly 
occurs  as  the  result  of  the  violent,  acute  inflammation 
of  gonorrhea,  especially  when  prolonged  in  the  form 
of  gleet.  In  cases  of  spermatorrhea,  however,  it  ap- 
pears to  be  the  result  of  long-continued  congestion  and 
irritation  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  urethral 
canal,  resulting  in  changes  in  the  mucous  membrane, 
which  sooner  or  later  produce  more  or  less  narrowing 
of  the  parts,  or  stricture.  The  amount  of  stricture  pro- 
duced in  this  w-ay  is  not  often  so  great  as  to  produce 
complete  obstruction,  and  is  quite  likely  to  be  over- 
looked; but  it  may  be  quite  sufficient  to  occasion  a  vast 
deal  of  suffering,  and  set  up  morbid  processes  in  the 
bladder  and  other  urinary  passages,  the  result  of  which 
may  be  the  worst  possible. 

All  the  hygienic  measures  which  have  been  enumer- 
ated elsewhere  as  essential  to  the  successful  treatment 
of  the  results  of  self-abuse,  must  be  brought  to  bear  in 
these  cases.  A^^ienever  possible,  the  patient  should 
place  himself  under  the  care  of  a  conscientious  and 
skilful  physician.  The  weakened  will-power  and  loss 
of  moral  tone  which  usually  exist  in  these  cases,  render 
the  services  of  a  physician  most  important,  as  very 
few  of  those  suffering  in  this  way  have  sufficient  self- 
command  and  decision  of  character  to  pursue,  for  any 
length  of  time,  the  rigid  and  systematic  efforts  neces- 
sary for  the  eradication  of  the  effects  of  long-contin- 
ued wrong-doing. 


632  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND   YOUNG 

The  opinion  expressed  by  many  physicians  when 
called  upon  by  patients  suffering  in  this  way,  that  the 
disease  is  one  of  little  consequence,  and  probably  does 
not  exist  at  all,  often  leads  to  great  mischief;  and  cer- 
tainly, when  such  an  opinion  is  given  without  a  close 
and  critical  investigation  of  the  case,  the  patient  may 
well  doubt  the  individual's  competence  to  deal  with 
disorders  of  this  class.  Those  who  have  had  much  to 
do  with  cases  of  this  sort,  have  become  thoroughly  con- 
vinced, not  only  of  their  great  frequency,  but  of  the 
fact  that  their  successful  treatment  requires  the  most 
painstaking  efforts,  and  the  exercise  of  the  highest 
skill,  not  only  in  the  selection  and  the  application  of 
remedial  measures  to  the  diseased  parts,  but  in  the  edu- 
cation and  discipline  of  the  patient  so  as  to  secure  his 
co-operation  in  carrying  out  those  measures  of  treat- 
ment and  regimen  elsewhere  suggested,  such  as  proper 
diet,  exercise,  abstinence,  etc.,  which  are  more  impor- 
tant than  any  medicinal  remedies  that  can  be  employed. 

In  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  it  should  be  thor- 
oughly understood  that  the  danger  to  the  system  con- 
sists, not  alone  in  the  loss  of  seminal  fluid,  but  in  the 
nervous  exhaustion  arising  from  reflex  nervous  action, 
which  ultimately  results  in  general  debility  and  de- 
rangement of  the  whole  system.  The  irritable  condi- 
tion of  the  diseased  surfaces  of  those  portions  of  the 
urethra  usually  affected,  occasions  a  morbid  irritability 
of  the  nerve  centers  of  the  lower  jDortion  of  the  spine, 
which  have  charge  of  this  part  of  the  body,  and  from 
this  the  irritation  is  propagated  to  other  portions  of 
the  central  nervous  system.  It  is  by  this  means  that 
the  digestive  organs,  lungs,  heart,  and  in  fact  every 
portion  of  the  body,  suffer,  even  in  an  extreme  degree, 
as  the  result  of  this  disorder. 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  633 

Seminal  Weakness  or  Nocturnal  Losses.— The 
great  prevalence  of  masturbation  among  boys  and 
young  men,  and  marital  excesses  among  married  men, 
lias  rendered  the  existence  of  genital  weakness  so  com- 
mon that  many  physicians  have  come  to  believe  that 
the  occurrence  of  seminal  losses  during  sleep  is  a  per- 
fectly normal  condition,  if  not  too  frequently  repeated. 
Extensive  observation,  however,  has  convinced  the 
writer  that  this  opinion  is  an  error,  and  that  in  a  man 
who  is  in  perfect  health,  physically,  mentally,  and  mor- 
ally, such  a  thing  as  involuntary  seminal  losses  will 
not  occur,  either  sleeping  or  waking. 

This  diseased  ^condition,  for  such  we  consider  it  to 
be  under  all  circumstances,  is  not  solely  the  result  of 
self-abuse,  however,  as  it  may  arise  from  any  form  of 
sexual  abuse,  as  has  been  pointed  out  in  previous  por- 
tions of  this  work.  Unquestionably,  the  underlying 
cause  of  the  disease  consists  in  a  great  number  of  cir- 
cumstances relating  to  diet,  matters  of  regimen,  social 
surroundings,  etc.,  pertaining  to  our  modern  civiliza- 
tion, which  are  directly  calculated  to  stimulate  the 
sexual  propensities  to  abnormal  activity. 

The  occurrence  of  an  emission  during  sleep,  indi- 
cates excessive  irritability  and  want  of  nerve  tone  on 
the  part  of  the  nerve  centers  controlling  the  sexual 
organs.  In  a  state  of  health,  the  influence  of  the  brain 
or  the  nervous  system  alone  is  not  sufficient  to  produce 
seminal  ejaculation,  the  natural  stimulus  of  coitus  or 
the  abnormal  one  of  masturbation  being  required  to 
compel  the  receptacles  of  this  most  precious  of  all  vital 
fluids  to  yield  up  their  contents.  Wlien  the  controlling 
nerve  centers  have  been  weakened  by  disease,  however, 
and  still  further  weakened  by  the  general  lowering  of 
nerve  tone  during  sleep,  even  the  slight  stimulus  of  a 


634  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

passing  dream  may  be  sufficient  to  produce  the  invol- 
untary actions  by  which  the  emission  is  occasioned.  In 
many  cases  in  which  the  disease  has  not  reached  this 
advanced  stage,  the  emission  does  not  occur  during 
sleep  except  when  conditions  especially  favoring  it  ex- 
ist, such  as  the  presence  of  undigested  food  in  the 
stomach,  loaded  bowels,  a  full  bladder,  supine  positfon, 
excessive  heat  from  too  much  covering,  or  some  similar 
cause  of  abnormal  sexual  excitement.  After  the  dis- 
ease has  made  further  advancement,  however,  causing 
an  additional  loss  of  tone  on  the  part  of  the  sexual  cen- 
ters, the  circumstances  mentioned,  while  still  favoring 
the  occurrence  of  the  emissions,  are  not  essential  to 
provoke  it,  as  it  will  often  occur  with  most  distressing 
frequency,  even  when  all  unfavorable  conditions  are 
carefully  avoided. 

After  the  malady  has  made  still  further  progress, 
the  nerve  centers  become  weakened  to  such  a  degree 
that  the  same  involuntary  discharge  may  occur  through 
the  excitement  of  impure  thoughts,  even  while  the  pa- 
tient is  wide-awake.  Another  step  lower,  and  that 
most  deplorable  condition  is  reached  in  which  seminal 
losses  occur  without  erotic  thoughts,  and  even  without 
the  slightest  degree  of  sexual  excitement  of  any  sort, 
a  condition  known  as  spermatorrhea,  or  spermator- 
rhagia,  which  is  considered  under  another  head. 

Symptoms.— The  leading  symptoms  of  this  disorder 
are  pain  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  back,  various  forms 
of  headache,  debility,  pressure  at  the  back  of  the  head, 
fulness  in  the  forehead  with  a  general  sense  of  oppres- 
sion in  the  head,  confusion  of  thought,  dulness  of  mind, 
want  of  mental  or  physical  energy,  mental  abstraction, 
irritability  of  temper,  nervousness,  fickleness,  morbid 
fears,  melancholy,  roaring  and  various  sounds  in  the 


DISEASES    PECULIAR   TO    MEN  635 

ears,  specks  before  the  eyes,  tenderness  of  the  eyeballs 
and  sensitiveness  of  the  eyes  to  light,  dark  rings  under 
the  eyes,  muscular  twitching,  wandering  pains  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  body,  numbness  and  other  peculiar 
sensations  in  the  arms  and  legs,  symptoms  of  indiges- 
tion, constipation  of  the  bowels,  sediment  in  the  urine, 
irregularity  of  the  urinary  excretion  as  to  quantity, 
great  sexual  excitability  or  sexual  apathy,  seminal 
losses  occurring  during  sleep  either  with  or  without 
dreams,  smarting  and  burning  of  the  urethra  during 
or  after  urinating,  dribbling  after  urination,  sense  of 
weight,  pain,  or  uneasiness  in  the  testicles,  tenderness 
or  dull  pains  in  the  perineum  or  fork  of  the  thighs, 
and  various  other  symptoms  too  numerous  to  mention. 
It  should  be  stated,  however,  in  this  connection,  that 
not  infrequently  the  patient  attributes  to  this  disorder 
many  symptoms  which  are  wholly  foreign  to  it,  and 
which  arise  from  other  diseases  that  happen  to  be 
present  with  it.  The  patient  is  quite  certain  to  make 
close  and  frequent  examinations  of  the  sexual  organs, 
and  to  notice  the  slightest  deviations  from  what  he 
considers  to  be  the  standard  of  health,  as  the  result 
of  which  he  not  infrequently  becomes  unnecessarily 
alarmed,  imagining  that  there  is  wasting  of  the  parts, 
or  other  abnormal  conditions  which  do  not  really  exist. 
This  tendency  is  greatly  encouraged  by  the  quackish 
advertisements  found  in  the  newspapers  and  scattered 
about  the  country  in  lying  circulars,  sent  out  by  mer- 
cenary charlatans,  in  which  are  to  be  found  grossly 
exaggerated  descriptions  of  the  disease  and  its  effects, 
which  are  well  calculated  to  excite  in  the  highest  de- 
gree, ignorant  and  suscei^tible  young  men  who  may 
be  suffering  with  any  of  the  symptoms  of  this  dis- 
ease. 


636  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 


A  question  of  importance  must  not  be  overlooked 
in  this  connection:  How  frequently  may  emissions 
occur  without  occasioning  injury?  As  has  been  pre- 
viously said,  an  emission  is  an  indication  of  an  abnor- 
mal condition.  However,  the  abnormality  does  not 
amount  to  what  might  properly  be  called  a  disease, 
when  the  occurrence  is  only  occasional,  and  is  not  fol- 
lowed by  any  chronic  general  or  local  disturbance. 
^\nien,  however,  an  emission  occurs  with  only  a  few 
days '  interval,  or  when  the  occasional  occurrence  is  fol- 
lowed by  general  discomfort  and  physical  and  mental 
depression  or  irritability,  or  such  local  symptoms  as 
smarting  after  urination,  dribbling  after  passing  urine, 
etc.,  serious  injury  is  being  done,  and  the  individual 
should  consider  it  necessary  to  place  himself  under 
treatment.  It  may  be  said,  in  general,  that  the  occur- 
rence of  an  emission  more  often  than  once  in  three  or 
four  weeks  is  evidence  that  the  morbid  condition  pres- 
ent is  sufficiently  serious  to  require  medical  attention. 
This  statement  will  be  met  by  the  claim  that  plenty  of 
cases  may  be  cited  in  which  losses  have  occurred  with 
much  greater  frequency  than  this,  for  long  periods, 
without  apparent  injury ;  but  sooner  or  later  other  evi- 
dences of  disease  make  their  appearance.  In  all  these 
cases,  injurious  results  make  their  appearance  sooner 
or  later,  if  not  in  any  other  way,  in  the  loss  of  sexual 
vigor  and  the  occurrence  of  prostatic  and  other  trou- 
bles which  either  do  not  occur  at  all  in  a  healthy  person, 
or  are  postponed  to  a  late  period  of  advanced  life. 

In  the  treatment  of  many  of  these  cases,  we  have 
invariably  noticed  as  one  of  the  first  symptoms  of 
improvement  that  though  the  seminal  losses  still  con- 
tinued without  great  diminution  in  frequency,  the  pa- 
tient no  longer  suffered  the  great  depression  of  mind 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  637 

and  body  which  had  previously  followed  their  occur- 
rence. This  is  a  sign  of  improvement  in  general  nerve 
tone,  by  means  of  which  the  disorder  will  be  ultimately 
controlled.  This  change  in  the  advance  of  the  disease 
toward  health  is  directly  the  reverse  of  that  which  oc- 
curs in  the  march  of  the  disorder  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion. Patients  may  often  imagine  the  emissions  are 
doing  no  harm,  though  occurring  with  great  frequency, 
simply  because  they  do  not  feel  any  serious  effects. 
But  this  is  only  because  the  general  vital  tone  is  suffi- 
ciently great  to  withstand  for  a  time  the  exhausting 
drain  upon  the  system;  but  sooner  or  later,  nervous 
bankruptcy  will  supervene,  and  the  patient  will  appreci- 
ate his  true  condition. 

As  regards  the  treatment  of  this  disorder,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  repeat  what  has  been  said  in  previous 
portions  of  this  book,  and  we  cannot  attempt  to  treat 
the  subject  in  anything  like  a  complete  manner,  not 
only  because  our  space  is  limited,  but  because  such  a 
treatise  would  not  be  in  conformity  with  the  general 
character  of  this  work.  The  following,  however,  is 
what  almost  any  young  man  may  do  to  aid  himself  in 
recovering  from  this  disease,  in  addition  to  such  meas- 
ures as  may  be  suggested  by  a  competent  physician 
who  has  been  made  thoroughly  cognizant  of  the  pecul- 
iarities of  the  case: 

1.  Diet.—Fjat  only  plain  and  simple  food.  Avoid 
all  highly  seasoned  and  stimulating  articles  of  food, 
such  as  sauces,  pepj^er,  pepper-sauce,  mustard,  and 
condiments  generally.  Also  avoid  eating  too  fast,  over- 
eating, and  eating  hearty  or  late  suppers.  It  is  far 
better  to  eat  but  two  meals  daily,  and  nothing  after 
4  or  5  p.  M.  Take  care  to  chew  the  food  very  thor- 
oughly.   Substitute  nuts  and  nut  preparations,  such  as 


638  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

malted  nuts,  for  meats  of  all  sorts.  Whole-grain 
prejDarations,  granola,  toasted  wheat  flakes,  graham 
bread,  etc.,  should  be  used,  together  with  ripe  fruit. 
All  kinds  of  alcoholic  liquors,  including  wine,  beer, 
and  hard  cider,  must  be  scrupulously  avoided,  also  the 
use  of  tobacco  in  any  form.  Tea  and  coffee  are  highly 
injurious.  The  diet  should  be  made  abstemious.  Bet- 
ter too  little  than  too  much. 

2.  E'Tyercise. —Flenty  of  exercise  in  the  open  air 
should  be  taken  daily.  "When  the  emplojonent  is  sed- 
entary, dumb-bells,  Indian  clubs,  and  other  forms  of 
gymnastics  are  of  great  value,  and  should  be  taken 
regularly.  The  amount  of  exercise  taken  each  day 
should  be  equivalent  to  walking  from  six  to  fifteen 
miles,  according  to  the  strength.  Vigorous  walking  is 
one  of  the  best  forms  of  exercise.  It  is  not  well,  as  a 
rule,  to  take  a  great  amount  of  exercise  before  break- 
fast. Exercise  may  often  be  taken  to  advantage  just 
before  retiring  at  night.  It  is  useful  at  this  time  as 
a  means  of  securing  a  healthful  fatigue,  which  will  in- 
sure sound  and  refreshing  sleep. 

3.  Mental  Conditions.— ThQ  mind  should  be  con- 
trolled with  the  utmost  rigor.  Impure  thoughts  should 
not  be  harbored  for  a  moment.  The  mind  should  not 
be  occupied  in  the  evening  with  anything  of  an  exciting 
nature. 

4.  Treatment.— T2i\ie  a  good,  thorough  sponge  or 
full  bath,  using  soap,  and  rubbing  vigorously  with  a 
coarse  towel,  twice  a  week,  at  bedtime.  If  the  parts 
are  irritable,  smarting  after  urinating,  and  frequent 
emissions,  take  a  hip  bath  at  100°  daily,  just  before 
retiring  at  night.  Continue  the  bath  about  fifteen  min- 
utes. Hot  and  cold  applications  to  the  lower  portion 
of  the  spine  three  or  four  times  a  week,  will  also  be 


DISEASES   PECULIAR    TO    MEN  639 


found  beneficial;  and  wlien  there  is  great  local  excit- 
ability or  smarting  after  urinating,  hot  applications 
may  be  made  to  the  perineum  with  advantage,  using 
a  sponge  wet  in  hot  water.  When  the  bowels  are  con- 
stipated, wear  an  abdominal  bandage,  which  should 
be  applied  by  means  of  a  towel  wet  in  cold  water  and 
wrung  out  as  dry  as  possible.  Wind  it  around  the 
body,  and  cover  with  a  flannel  bandage  long  enough  to 
go  two  or  three  times  around  the  body.  Remove  in 
morning  and  bathe  the  parts  with  cold  water.  Knead 
and  percuss  the  bowels  two  or  three  times  a  day;  and 
if  very  obstinate,  resort  to  the  warm  water  enema, 
which  can  be  most  conveniently  taken  by  means  of  a 
fountain  or  siphon  syringe. 

Drink  six  or  eight  glasses  of  water  in  the  course 
of  the  day.  One  hour  before  a  meal,  or  two  or  three 
hours  after,  is  the  best  time  for  taking  the  water.  A 
glass  or  two  may  be  taken  with  advantage  just  before 
retiring  at  night.  If  there  is  a  tendency  to  atrophy 
or  shrinkage  of  the  parts,  alternate  sponging  in  hot 
and  cold  water  daily  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  will  be 
found  beneficial. 

Diurnal  Losses.— Under  the  head  of  diurnal  emis- 
sions or  losses  are  included  every  form  of  seminal  dis- 
charge occurring  involuntarily  during  the  waking 
hours.  These  discharges  are  very  diverse  in  character. 
They  usually  occur  just  before  or  immediately  after 
the  passage  of  urine,  or  when  straining  at  stool.  How- 
ever, in  the  majority  of  cases,  they  are  not  seminal  in 
character,  though  there  may  be  an  occasional  loss  of 
seminal  fluid.  This  fact  may  be  ascertained  by  placing 
a  small  portion  of  the  discharge  upon  a  slip  of  glass, 
and  putting  it  in  the  hands  of  a  good  microscopist  for 
examination.     We  have  made  many  examinations  of 

38 


640  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

this  kind,  and  while  a  trace  of  seminal  fluid  has  been 
frequently  found,  we  have  been  able  to  assure  most  of 
these  patients  that  the  discharge  which  they  supposed 
to  be  seminal  in  character,  and  which  had  given  rise 
to  the  gravest  apprehensions,  was  really  wholly  of  a 
catarrhal  nature,  and  only  significant  as  indicating  a 
diseased  condition  of  some  portion  of  the  urinary  or 
genital  passages. 

These  discharges  should  not  be  looked  upon,  how- 
ever, as  insignificant,  and  not  worthy  of  attention,  as 
they  are  always  indicative  of  disease.  The  nature  of 
the  disease  presents  as  various  forms  as  do  the  dis- 
charges themselves.  Several  varieties  are  observed, 
which  may  be  enumerated  as  follows: 

1.  The  most  common  of  all  discharges  of  this  kind 
is  a  clear,  viscid  secretion,  much  resembling  the  white 
of  an  egg,  which  escapes  from  the  orifice  of  the  urethra 
either  before  or  after  urination,  or  after  an  erection, 
following  some  degree  of  sexual  excitement.  This 
discharge  is  from  the  small  glands  located  in  the  pros- 
tatic urethra,  and  is  a  perfectly  natural  secretion.  Too 
great  an  amount,  however,  indicates  abnormal  irri- 
tability of  the  membrane  of  the  locality  from  which  it 
comes,  and  hence  is  deserving  of  attention, 

2.  An  opaque  mucous  secretion  which  is  formed  in 
the  seminal  vesicles.  This  secretion  may  be  either  due 
to  catarrh  of  the  parts  named,  or  may  be  a  natural 
secretion  squeezed  out  by  the  pressure  of  hardened 
feces  in  the  act  of  moving  the  bowels.  A  similar  dis- 
charge, noticed  after  urinating  and  after  a  movement 
of  the  bowels,  may  be  the  result  of  a  chronic  irritation 
or  inflammation  of  some  portion  of  the  urethral  canal, 
and  in  such  a  case  requires  thorough  and  careful  treat- 
ment. 


DISEASES    PECULIAR   TO    MEN  641 

3.  Lastly,  we  mention  a  milky  looking  fluid,  in 
quantity  varying  from  one  to  two  drops  to  half  a  tea- 
spoonful,  escaping  at  the  beginning  or  end  of  urination, 
which  is  found  to  contain  a  greater  or  less  quantity  of 
spermatozoa. 

All  discharges  from  the  urethra  are  liable  to  con- 
tain spermatozoa  in  greater  or  less  quantities,  either 
as  the  result  of  a  relaxed  condition  of  the  openings  of 
the  ejaculatory  ducts,  which  allows  the  semen  contained 
in  the  seminal  vesicles  to  escape,  or  often  as  the  result 
of  constipation  of  the  bowels,  the  seminal  fluid  being 
mechanically  forced  out  of  the  seminal  vesicles  by  the 
pressure  of  the  hardened  contents  of  the  bowels.  These 
discharges  may  occur  with  very  great  frequency,  or 
only  at  long  intervals.  When  of  very  infrequent  oc- 
currence, their  significance  is  not  very  great ;  but  when, 
as  is  sometimes  the  case,  they  occur  daily,  the  condi- 
tion should  receive  prompt  attention. 

Sometimes  the  discharge  of  seminal  fluid  is  back- 
ward into  the  bladder,  and  so  mixed  with  the  urine  that 
attention  is  not  called  to  it,  and  the  patient  is  wholly 
unaware  of  the  mysterious  disease  which  ^s  undermin- 
ing his  health,  and  goes  from  one  physician  to  another 
seeking  to  find  the  real  cause  of  his  malady  and  the 
proper  remedy,  but  obtaining  no  relief.  We  have  met 
a  number  of  cases  of  this  sort,  in  some  of  which  the 
amount  of  seminal  fluid  lost  in  this  way,  and  the  con- 
stancy of  the  symptom,  quite  exceeded  any  conception 
which  we  had  previously  formed  of  cases  of  this  sort. 
The  only  method  of  detecting  these  cases  is  for  the 
phj^sician  to  adopt  as  a  routine  practice  the  plan  of 
making  a  careful  microscopical  examination  of  the 
urine  in  every  case. 

All    urethral    discharges,    of   whatever    character, 


642  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

should  be  subjected  to  careful  microscopical  scrutiny, 
as  by  this  means  only  can  their  real  character  be  deter- 
mined. We  have  frequently  found  seminal  fluid  pres- 
ent when  it  was  least  suspected,  and  when  the  small 
quantity  discharged  was  supposed  to  be  simply  a  little 
urethral  mucus  or  prostatic  fluid.  The  significance  of 
these  discharges  is  not  in  proportion  to  the  quantity. 
Even  the  very  slight  amount  of  discharge,  if  constantly 
present,  is  indicative  of  a  morbid  condition,  which  may 
in  time  give  rise  to  the  very  worst  results.  When  such 
a  discharge  accompanies  seminal  losses,  or  any  other 
form  of  sexual  weakness,  it  must  certainly  be  removed 
before  the  accompanying  difficulty  can  be  entirely  re- 
lieved. The  sediment  which  apjDcars  in  the  urine,  as 
a  general  thing,  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  discharges. 
These  sediments  usually  consist  of  phosphates  or 
urates,  though  sometimes  there  is  more  or  less  mucus 
present.  When  this  is  the  case,  whitish  threads  will 
be  observed  to  float  upward  from  the  mass  collected 
at  the  bottom  of  the  vessel.  When  the  deposit  con- 
sists of  urates,  the  urine  is  clear  when  first  passed,  the 
sediment  only  appearing  after  the  urine  has  cooled. 
Phosphates  appear  in  the  urine  when  first  voided,  often 
giving  to  it  a  milky  appearance,  the  cause  of  which  is 
likely  to  be  attributed  to  the  presence  of  a  large  quan- 
tity of  seminal  fluid.  It  is  exceedingly  rare,  however, 
that  spermatozoa  are  present  in  so  great  a  quantity  as 
to  give  the  urine  this  appearance. 

The  ordinary  results  of  these  emissions,  when  long 
continued,  are  the  following: 

1.  The  most  constant  of  all  the  morbid  conditions 
resulting  from  this  discharge  is  a  weakened  condition 
of  the  organs  affected.  The  functional  activity  of  the 
sexual  organs  is  perhaps  more  easily  disturbed  than 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  643 

is  found  to  be  the  case  with  any  other  organ  or  system 
of  organs  in  the  body.  This  is  the  wise  provision  of 
nature  for  the  protection  of  the  rest  of  the  body,  which 
sutfers  more  profoundly  from  excessive  exercise  of  the 
sexual  function  than  from  any  other  form  of  abnormal 
functional  activity.  Hence,  when  great  excesses  of  this 
sort  are  indulged  in,  nature  kindly  takes  away  the 
power  for  indulgence,  and  thus  prevents  that  utter 
destruction  of  the  body  which  results  from  the  con- 
tinued exhausting  drain  to  which  the  system  might 
otherwise  be  subjected.  Wlien  diurnal  emissions  of 
any  sort  occur,  the  sexual  organs  are  also  seriously  dis- 
eased, and  morbid  processes  are  at  work  which  are  very 
certain  to  result  ultimately  in  serious  loss  of  sexual 
vigor.  Cases  in  which  the  discharge  is  distinctly  of  a 
seminal  character,  were  formerly  considered  to  be  prac- 
tically hopeless;  but  by  proper  management,  and  with 
the  aid  of  improved  methods,  these  cases  are  known 
to  be  amenable  to  treatment,  and  it  is  probable  that 
nearly  all  cases,  if  not  every  one,  may  be  substantially 
cured  by  the  adoption  of  the  proper  measures. 

2.  General  nervous  debility  is  another  of  the  most 
prominent  results  of  these  losses.  This  arises,  not  so 
much  from  the  drain  upon  the  system  by  the  frequent 
discharge,  but  from  the  morbid  reflex  influence  of  the 
local  irritation,  which  gives  rise  to  the  discharge.  The 
patient  is  much  given  to  melancholy,  and  sometimes 
approaches  almost  to  the  border-line  of  insanity  in  con- 
sequence of  the  mental  distress  arising  from  the  knowl- 
edge of  his  real  condition,  or  from  apprehension  of  a 
condition  more  grave  than  that  which  really  exists. 

3.  Various  diseases  of  the  bladder  and  portions  of 
the  urinary  passages  are  often  present  in  these  cases, 
and    very    frequent,    difficult,    or    painful    urination. 


644  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Smarting  or  burning  at  the  beginning  of  the  act  of 
urination  is  a  very  constant  symptom,  to  which  is  usu- 
ally added  a  persistent  and  annoying  dribbling  of  urine 
after  evacuation  of  the  bladder.  This  is  due  to  the 
relaxed  and  weakened  condition  of  the  muscles  of  the 
urethra,  and  their  failure  to  contract  promptly,  so  as 
to  expel  the  last  portion  of  the  urine.  A  similar  condi- 
tion of  relaxation  affects  the  mouths  of  the  ejaculatory 
ducts,  which  causes  them  to  remain  open,  allowing  the 
escape  of  seminal  fluid. 

4.  Dyspepsia  in  some  one  of  its  various  forms  is 
very  frequently  an  accompaniment  of  this  disorder, 
and  is  a  direct  cause  of  a  great  share  of  the  debility 
and  distress  arising  from  it,  which  are  usually  attrib- 
uted to  the  seminal  losses,  though  not  directly  due  to 
them. 

When  a  person  discovers,  himself  to  be  affected  with 
discharges  of  this  sort,  he  should  consider  the  matter 
one  deserving  of  immediate  and  careful  attention  until 
every  vestige  of  the  disease  is  removed.  The  penalty 
of  neglecting  to  attend  to  the  matter  with  promptness 
will  usually  be,  in  the  most  favorable  cases,  early  loss 
of  sexual  vigor,  and  in  the  great  majority  of  cases, 
some  worse  form  of  sexual  disease,  and  all  the  vari- 
ous accompanying  symptoms  which  have  been  pointed 
out. 

Treatment.— The  prolonged  cold  sitz  is  a  most  excel- 
lent remedy.  Temperature  78°  to  70°  F.,  fifteen  to 
thirty  minutes.  Take  a  hot  foot  bath  at  the  same  time. 
Keep  the  bowels  regular.  Use  an  enema  of  cool  water 
daily  for  some  time,  if  necessary.  Take  a  cool  bath 
every  morning ;  a  cold  towel  bath  is  good.  This  is  bet- 
ter: Let  three  or  four  inches  of  cold  water  run  into 
the  tub,  sit  down  in  the  water  after  wetting  the  face 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  645 

and  neck  well  with  cold  water,  and  rub  the  legs  well 
for  three  to  five  minutes. 

The  question  of  marriage  has  been  discussed  else- 
where in  this  work;  but  we  cannot  allow  this  oppor- 
tunity to  pass  without  reiterating  the  warning  that  a 
person  suffering  in  this  way  should  never  think  of 
marrying  until  the  local  disease  has  been  substantially 
cured,  as  the  deepest  regret  and  intensification  of  suf- 
fering are  almost  certain  to  result  when  a  contrary 
course  is  taken. 

Diseased  Prostate. — One  of  the  most  common  ac- 
companiments of  the  disease  previously  described  is 
some  form  of  prostatic  disorder.  Perhaps  the  most 
common  of  these  is  irritable  prostate,  a  disease  in 
which  the  affected  part  is  sensitive  to  pressure,  as  may 
be  discovered  by  introducing  the  finger  into  the  rec- 
tum, and  pressing  in  the  direction  of  the  bladder.  The 
irritability  is  sometimes  so  great  as  to  occasion  pain 
or  uneasiness  in  sitting,  there  being  constantly  a  dull, 
aching  pain  in  the  perineum,  or  fork  of  the  thighs. 
This  condition  may  be  the  result  of  chronic  or  acute 
inflammation,  but  most  often  results  from  sexual  ex- 
cesses of  some  form.  In  cases  of  nocturnal  losses,  or 
spermatorrhea,  this  condition  is  a  frequent  cause  of 
the  continuance  and  aggravation  of  the  disorder,  occa- 
sioning undue  excitement  of  the  parts,  and  weakening  of 
the  nerve  centers  which  have  control  over  these  organs, 
lowering  their  tone,  and  thus  engendering  the  very 
conditions  upon  which  this  disorder  chiefly  depends. 
Persons  suffering  in  this  way  generally  complain  of 
smarting  during  or  after  the  evacuation  of  the  bladder. 

Acute  Inflammation  of  the  Prostate  is  generally  the 
result  of  excessive  sexual  excitement,  alcoholic  indul- 
gence, extension  of  gonorrheal  inflammation,  or  severe 


646  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

treatment  of  the  urethra  by  means  of  irritating  injec- 
tions and  the  careless  use  of  sounds.  Exposure  of  the 
parts  to  dampness  and  cold,  as  in  sitting  upon  the 
ground  or  a  wet  board,  has  occasioned  the  disease. 

The  most  common  symptoms  are  a  sensation  of 
weight  and  fulness  about  the  rectum  and  perineum,  and 
an  urgent  desire  to  pass  water,  with  uneasiness  at  the 
neck  of  the  bladder.  When  the  urine  is  passed,  more 
or  less  pain  is  experienced  at  the  close  of  the  act. 
When  the  inflammation  attains  a  high  degree  of  inten- 
sity, the  pain  becomes  throbbing  and  shooting  in  char- 
acter. There  is  a  sensation  of  great  fulness  and  tender- 
ness in  the  parts,  also  pain  in  the  back  when  sitting. 
Great  pain  is  experienced  in  the  movement  of  the 
bowels,  and  in  severe  cases  there  may  be  obstruction 
of  the  urinary  passages.  The  patient  may  suffer  from 
chilliness,  and  generally  has  more  or  less  fever.  If 
the  finger  is  placed  in  the  rectum,  the  prostate  gland 
is  found  to  be  more  or  less  swollen  and  throbbing.  If 
the  patient  remains  quiet  in  bed,  the  recovery  is  gen- 
erally quite  speedy,  though  the  gland  is  often  left  in 
an  irritable  and  enlarged  condition,  and  is  liable  to 
the  occurrence  of  similar  attacks,  or  the  continuance 
of  the  inflammation  in  a  chronic  form,  in  which  the 
same  symptoms  are  experienced,  though  with  a  less 
degree  of  intensity.  There  is  also  more  or  less  dis- 
charge, cloudiness  of  urine,  and  much  difficulty  and 
pain  in  passing  the  urine.  Excessive  exercise  and  the 
use  of  irritating  foods  aggravate  the  symptoms  in  the 
chronic  as  well  as  the  acute  form  of  the  disease. 

Enlargement  of  the  Prostate  is  usually  the  result  of 
acute  or  chronic  inflammation,  though  it  is  not  infre- 
quently found  in  elderly  persons  and  those  who  have 
been  addicted  to  great  excesses,  without  the  occurrence 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  647 

of  the  acute  form  of  the  disease.  Enlargement  of  the 
prostate  is  considered  by  some  to  be  a  necessary  accom- 
paniment of  old  age;  bnt  this  is  certainly  not  the  case, 
though  it  is  probable  that  fully  one-third  of  all  men 
who  have  attained  the  age  of  fifty  years  have  more  or 
less  enlargement  of  the  part. 

Many  persons  have  a  considerable  degree  of  en- 
largement of  the  prostate  without  being  aware  of  the 
fact,  the  increase  in  size  being  so  gradual  that  it  is  not 
observed  until  so  great  a  degree  of  obstruction  to  the 
passage  of  urine  is  produced  as  to  require  a  consider- 
able degree  of  voluntary  expulsive  force.  The  size  of  the 
stream  is  not  usually  lessened,  but  the  force  is  greatly 
diminished.  The  patient  urinates  with  much  greater 
frequency  than  usual,  and  as  the  disease  advances, 
considerable  irritability  and  discomfort  in  the  rectum 
is  occasioned  by  the  frequent  and  violent  straining 
efforts  required  to  evacuate  the  bladder.  After  a  time, 
the  obstruction  becomes  so  great  that  the  bladder  can- 
not be  fully  evacuated  by  any  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
patient.  When  it  becomes  greatly  distended,  a  small 
quantity  of  urine  may  be  forced  out  by  violent  efforts, 
and  during  sleep  a  sort  of  overflow  occurs,  which  may 
be  the  first  symptom  to  which  the  patient's  attention 
is  seriously  directed.  The  retained  urine  decomposes, 
becoming  alkaline,  irritating  the  mucous  membrane  and 
causing  catarrh  or  inflammation  of  the  bladder,  and  a 
great  variety  of  attendant  disorders  and  inconven- 
iences, which,  if  neglected,  may  lead  to  fatal  results. 
"We  have  frequently  met  cases  of  this  kind  in  which 
the  bladder  contained  almost  incredible  quantities  of 
urine  which  had  probably  been  retained  for  weeks.  In 
some  cases,  possibly  the  bladder  had  not  been  fully 
emptied  for  months. 


648  PLAIN    FACTS    TOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

Treatment.— The  very  same  measures  which  have 
elsewhere  been  i'ecommended  for  local  congestion,  par- 
ticularly hot  sitz  baths,  hot  fomentations  to  the  lower 
portion  of  the  spine  and  perineum,  are  among  the  most 
useful  measures  in  these  cases.  The  same  regimen 
as  to  diet  should  be  followed  as  has  been  indicated  for 
other  sexual  disorders,  particularly  the  avoidance  of 
all  stimulating  foods,  tobacco,  alcoholics,  tea,  coffee, 
etc.  It  is  important,  however,  that  the  patient  should 
avoid  violent  exercise,  and  that  total  abstinence  as 
regards  sexual  indulgence  should  be  observed  until  the 
disease  is  thoroughly  cured. 

In  chronic  cases,  the  prolonged  cold  sitz  is  useful 
(78°  to  65°,  ten  to  twenty  minutes).  When  there  is 
much  tenderness,  pain  or  smarting  after  urinating,  or 
frequent  urination,  the  very  hot  sitz  is  best.  Begin 
at  104°,  and  increase  rapidly  to  118°  to  120°.  Dura- 
tion, four  to  six  minutes.  Keep  the  bowels  regular  by 
the  free  use  of  granose  flakes,  fruit,  and  nuts. 

Stricture. — A  contraction,  or  stricture,  of  any  por- 
tion of  the  urethral  canal  is  usually  the  result  of  the 
acute  inflammation  of  gonorrhea,  or  the  chronic  irri- 
tation and  inflammation  of  gleet.  All  grades  of  stric- 
ture exist  in  different  cases,  from  a  very  slight  narrow- 
ing of  the  canal,  to  complete  obstruction.  The  idea 
that  a  stricture  does  no  harm  if  it  does  not  very  mate- 
rially obstruct  the  passage  of  urine,  is  a  popular  error 
which  should  be  corrected.  Any  considerable  degree 
of  narrowing  of  the  canal,  whether  sufficient  to  pre- 
sent a  serious  obstacle  to  the  evacuation  of  the  bladder 
or  not,  is  a  serious  matter,  and  requires  the  attention 
of  a  competent  surgeon.  Such  a  contraction  is  usu- 
ally sufficient  to  maintain  a  gleety  discharge,  and  a 
chronic  irritability  which  is  likely  to  result  in  early 


DISEASES    PECULIAR   TO    MEN  649 


loss  of  sexual  vigor,  or  some  other  form  of  sexual 
disorder. 

Stricture  is  not  always  the  result  of  gonorrhea  or 
acute  inflammation  of  the  urethra,  but  may,  and  fre- 
quently does,  result  from  the  practice  of  self-abuse,  or 
may  often  be  occasioned  by  a  long  continuance  of  noc- 
turnal emissions  which  may  have  been  occasioned  by 
mental  incontinence,  even  when  masturbation  has  never 
been  practiced.  The  earliest  symptoms  of  stricture  are 
pain  and  smarting  at  some  point  of  the  urethra  during 
or  after  the  passage  of  urine,  this  part  being  usually 
the  seat  of  the  stricture;  a  slight  discharge;  frequent 
urination;  the  peculiar  form  of  the  stream  of  urine, 
which  may  be  twisted,  forked,  divided,  or  squirting. 
Change  in  the  form  of  the  stream  should  not,  however, 
be  looked  upon  as  a  positive  symptom  of  stricture,  as 
it  is  not  infrequently  occasioned  by  swelling  of  the 
lijjs  of  the  orifice  of  the  urethra.  Pain  in  the  testicles 
and  back  and  irritation  and  protrusion  of  the  rectum 
are  frequent  results  of  violent  straining.  Retention  of 
the  urine  is  also  a  frequent  symptom.  Sometimes, 
in  consequence  of  retention  of  the  urine,  it  becomes  foul 
in  the  bladder,  producing  irritation  of  the  mucous  mem- 
brane, and  subsequently  catarrh  of  the  bladder.  In 
these  cases,  the  mucus  appears  in  the  urine  as  a  whitish 
deposit,  shreds  of  which  float  through  the  urine.  Blood 
is  sometimes  passed,  especially  in  cases  in  which  the 
catheter  is  frequently  used.  In  advanced  cases,  the 
stricture  becomes  so  close  that  the  urine  can  be  passed 
only  in  drops;  and  after  a  while,  constant  dripping 
occurs,  due  to  overflowing  of  the  bladder,  which  the 
patient  is  unable  to  empty  by  voluntary  effort.  The 
bladder  becomes  greatly  distended,  and  sometimes 
nearly  paralyzed.     Great  injury  is  occasionally  done 


650  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND    YOUNG 

through  rupture  of  the  urethra,  from  the  violent  strain- 
ing efforts  of  the  patient.  There  is  generally  great 
impairment  of  the  general  health  in  these  cases.  The 
patient  complains  of  various  disorders  of  the  digestive 
organs,  great  pain  in  the  loins  and  back,  chilliness,  fol- 
lowed by  fever,  especially  after  the  use  of  the  catheter, 
which  sometimes  ]3roduces  symptoms  so  serious  as  to 
give  rise  to  what  is  known  as  urethral  fever. 

The  treatment  of  stricture  is  a  matter  which  be- 
longs exclusively  to  the  skilled  surgeon.  The  man  who 
has  any  suspicion  whatever  that  he  is  suffering  with 
even  a  moderate  degree  of  obstruction  of  the  urethral 
canal,  should  at  once  seek  skilful  surgical  advice. 
Sometimes  the  narrowing  of  the  urethra  may  exist  only 
at  the  orifice,  and  yet  serious  results  may  follow  if  the 
difficulty  is  neglected. 

Balanitis.  —Persons  who  have  a  long  and  rather 
tight  foreskin  frequentl}^  suffer  from  inflammation  of 
the  mucous  membrane  which  covers  the  glans  penis,  or 
foreskin.  The  symptoms  are  severe  burning  or  itch- 
ing of  the  affected  parts,  frequently  accompanied  by 
violent  erections  and  great  sexual  excitement.  The 
foreskin  is  red  and  swollen,  sometimes  to  a  very 
great  degree.  A  yellowish  or  whitish  discharge  of 
a  very  disagreeable  odor  is  also  present.  The  most 
common  cause  is  neglect  to  keep  the  parts  thoroughly 
cleansed. 

Treatment.— The  only  treatment  required  in  the 
majority  of  cases  is  thorough  cleansing  of  the  parts 
three  or  four  times  a  day  with  tepid  water  and  green 
soap.  If  the  disease  persists,  a  slightly  astringent 
lotion  may  be  applied,  and  if  it  is  found  impossible  to 
prevent  the  disease  by  daily  cleansing,  a  portion  of  the 
redundant  prepuce  should  be  removed  by  a  surgeon. 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  651 

When  cases  of  this  sort  are  neglected,  thickening 
and  narrowing  of  the  foreskin  is  frequently  the  result, 
and  this  is  sometimes  so  great  as  to  be  an  obstruction 
to  the  passage  of  urine.  We  have  met  cases  in  which 
the  result  was  an  adhesion  of  the  foreskin  to  the  glans 
penis. 

Phimosis.— This  is  a  condition  in  which  the  fore- 
skin is  so  tight  that  it  cannot  readily  be  drawn  back 
over  the  glans  penis.  In  some  cases,  the  orifice  is  so 
small  that  there  is  barely  room  for  the  passage  of  the 
stream  of  urine  in  the  evacuation  of  the  bladder.  A 
person  may  be  born  with  this  condition,  or  it  may  be 
the  result  of  long-continued  inflammation  or  irritation. 
This  matter  is  one  which  should  receive  attention,  as 
the  irritation  arising  from  phimosis  may  occasion  vari- 
ous sexual  disorders,  particularly  nocturnal  emissions, 
a  disease  which  is  always  aggravated  by  it,  though 
originally  induced  by  other  causes. 

As  soon  as  discovered,  this  condition  should  be  re- 
moved by  the  proper  operation.  It  is  rarely  necessary 
to  resort  to  the  old  method  of  circumcision,  as  the  same 
results  may  be  obtained  by  an  operation  less  formi- 
dable and  painful. 

This  condition  is  often  present  in  young  boys,  even 
infants.  Prompt  attention  is  necessary  for  preventing 
serious  disorders  of  the  nervous  system  as  well  as  disas- 
trous local  results. 

Paraphimosis.— This  condition  is  one  rarely  met 
with,  except  in  cases  of  venereal  disease,  though  some 
years  ago  we  encountered  a  very  severe  case  in  the 
person  of  a  little  boy  who  was  suffering  from  partial 
phimosis,  and  having  accidentally  drawn  the  prepuce 
over  the  glans,  was  unable  to  return  it.  In  a  short 
time,  so  great  swelling  occurred  that  sloughing  of  the 


652  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

parts  was  threatened,  wlien  liis  father  brought  him  to 
us  for  relief.  Persons  suffering  with  paraphimosis 
should  not  incur  the  risk  of  an  accident  of  this  sort. 
Wlien  paraphimosis  exists,  a  physician  should  be  called, 
unless  by  careful  manipulation  of  the  parts  they  can 
be  readily  restored  to  their  normal  condition. 

Hydrocele. —This  condition,  sometimes  incorrectly 
called  dropsy  of  the  testicle,  consists  in  an  excessive 
accumulation  of  natural  secretion  within  one  of  the 
coverings  of  the  testicle.  The  enlargement  is  usually 
pear-shaped,  with  the  large  end  downward,  and  differs 
from  hernia  in  its  form,  the  tumor  of  hernia  being 
larger  at  the  upper  instead  of  the  lower  part.  Wlien 
allowed  to  exist  for  years,  hydrocele  frequently  causes 
a  wasting  of  the  testicle,  and  hence  should  receive  atten- 
tion as  soon  as  it  makes  its  appearance.  It  is  not  nec- 
essary to  describe  the  methods  of  treatment  required 
for  this  disorder,  as  a  competent  surgeon  should  be 
consulted. 

Varicocele.— This  condition  consists  of  a  varicose 
condition  of  the  spermatic  veins.  It  is  a  very  frequent 
malady,  probably  one-tenth  of  all  males  being  affected 
with  it.  In  chronic  cases,  the  disease  is  accompanied 
by  more  or  less  inflammation  of  the  walls  of  the  veins, 
causing  thickening„  The  mass  of  veins  sometimes  at- 
tains an  enormous  size.  Aside  from  the  enlargement, 
the  most  common  symptoms  are  pain  in  the  testicle 
and  groin,  and  a  constant  dragging  sensation,  espe- 
cially when  standing  upon  the  feet,  or  engaged  in  active 
exercise.  In  many  cases,  these  symptoms  are  not  pres- 
ent to  such  an  extent  as  to  occasion  any  inconvenience 
during  the  cold  months,  but  are  very  troublesome  dur- 
ing the  warm  season  of  the  year.  The  disease  may  be 
occasioned  by  the  same  causes  which  produce  a  vari- 


DISEASES   PECULIAR    TO    MEN  653 


cose  condition  of  the  lower  extremities,  such  as  long 
standing  upon  the  feet,  or  excessive  walking.  A  very 
common  cause  is  straining  at  stool.  The  disease  is 
probably  most  frequent  in  those  who  have  been  ad- 
dicted to  self -abuse  and  other  sexual  excesses,  though 
it  is  by  no  means  confined  to  this  class.  Varicocele 
occurs  most  frequently  on  the  left  side,  which  is  prob- 
ably due  to  the  absence  of  valves  in  the  left  spermatic 
vein. 

The  palliative  treatment  of  this  disorder  consists 
in  frequent  bathing  of  the  parts  in  cold  water,  and 
wearing  a  proper  suspensory  bandage  to  support  the 
scrotum  and  its  contents.  The  only  radical  method  of 
cure  consists  in  ligation  of  the  spermatic  veins.  The 
old  method  of  doing  this  operation  was  somewhat 
hazardous,  and  only  justifiable  in  severe  cases ;  but  the 
improved  methods  now  used  are  free  from  danger,  and 
may  be  performed  without  the  aid  of  an  anesthetic, 
and  without  occasioning  any  great  degree  of  pain. 

Impotence.— Almost  the  sole  cause  of  impotence  is 
sexual  excess  of  some  kind,  and  the  disease  is  in  a 
great  number  of  cases  the  result  of  self-abuse  and  un- 
natural coitus.  The  first  symptom  of  approaching 
impotence  is  too  early  ejaculation,  which  is  soon  fol- 
lowed by  loss  of  sexual  power.  The  primary  cause  of 
the  disease  is  exhaustion  of  the  nerve  centers  which 
control  the  sexual  organs.  In  a  great  share  of  these 
cases,  nocturnal  losses,  or  true  spermatorrhea,  is  pres- 
ent with  all  the  accompanying  s\anptoms  of  this  dis- 
order, particularly  an  irritable  condition  of  the  ure- 
thra. 

Treatment.— The  majority  of  cases  of  impotence 
which  have  not  been  seriously  mistreated,  may  be  re- 
lieved, if  they  have  not  existed  for  too  great  a  length 


654  PLAIN    TACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

of  time.  In  persons  far  advanced  in  years,  who  have 
become  impotent  through  the  natural  decline  of  the 
vital  powers,  no  measure  of  treatment  can  afford  more 
than  temporary  relief.  In  young  men  who  are  suffer- 
ing with  complete  or  partial  loss  of  sexual  ability,  as 
the  result  of  excesses,  the  disease  can  usually  be  cured 
by  the  adoption  of  proper  methods  in  the  hands  of  an 
experienced  physician.  The  patient  may  employ  ad- 
vantageously the  regimen  and  treatment  suggested  for 
seminal  weakness,  which  will  be  found  of  great  service 
in  conjunction  with  any  other  measures  of  treatment 
that  may  be  instituted.  We  would  warn  persons  suffer- 
ing in  this  way  against  the  use  of  aphrodisiac  reme- 
dies, or  sexual  stimulants,  as  the  ultimate  results  of 
such  measures  are  the  very  worst  possible,  and  no  cases 
are  so  hopeless  as  those  which  have  been  mistreated  in 
this  way. 

More  abounding  life  and  vitality  are  the  things  most 
needful.  With  an  increase  of  general  vigor,  there  may 
be  likewise  an  increase  of  local  vigor. 

An  outdoor  life,  simplicity  and  naturalness  in  all 
the  habits  of  life,  purity  of  life,  physical  as  well  as 
mental,— these,  with  daily  cold  baths,  short  cold  sitz 
baths,  bathing  the  parts  in  cold  water,  and  the  cool 
enema,  are  the  most  effective  measures. 

Sterility. —Sterility  is  by  most  men  supposed  to 
be  a  disease  confined  almost  exclusively  to  the  other 
sex ;  but  careful  researches  have  shown  that  when  mar- 
ried couples  are  childless,  the  fault  is  with  the  husband 
in  not  less  than  one  case  out  of  six.  Want  of  pro- 
creative  power  may  be  due  to  disease,  or  deficient 
development  of  the  testicles,  or  entire  absence  of  the 
organs.  It  may  also  arise  from  obstruction  of  some 
portion  of  the  seminal  ducts,  from  disease  of  the  sem- 


DISEASES  PECULIAR  TO  MEN  655 

inal  fluid,  catarrhal  or  bloody  discharges  from  some  portion 
of  the  urinary  passages,  too  frequent  sexual  indulgence, 
seminal  losses,  catarrh  of  the  prostate,  absence  of  sperma- 
tozoa, consumption,  syphilis,  nervous  debility,  and  diseases  of 
the  brain  and  kidneys.  The  management  of  diseases  of  this 
kind  requires  the  greatest  skill  on  the  part  of  the  physician, 
and  cannot  be  left  to  the  patient  himself,  and  hence  few 
remarks  concerning  treatment  are  needed  here.  Many  cases 
are  incurable  from  their  very  nature ;  but  cases  in  which  the 
sterility  is  the  result  of  abnormal  discharges,  are  cured  by 
correcting  the  discharge. 

Gonorrhea. — This  very  grave  disease  is  due  to  infection 
with  the  gonococcus,  one  of  the  most  virulent  germs  known. 
The  gonococcus  produces  a  very  virulent  and  irritating 
toxin,  which  causes  intense  inflammation  of  the  tissues  with 
which  it  comes  in  contact,  even  producing  ulceration  and 
destruction  of  the  tissues.  The  disease  is  usually  con- 
fined to  the  urethral  canal,  but  may  affect  other  portions  of 
the  penis,  as  the  head  of  the  organ  and  the  foreskin.  Its 
usual  course  is  from  the  orifice  of  the  urethra  inward.  It 
may  be  confined  to  the  mucous  membrane,  but  usually  in- 
volves the  deeper  structures.  In  severe  cases,  the  inflamma- 
tion may  reach  into  the  surrounding  tissues  so  extensively 
as  to  cause  distortion  of  the  shape  of  the  organ  by  contrac- 
tion or  stricture.  Ulceration  and  various  other  grave  in- 
juries may  be  produced. 

The  infection  of  gonorrhea  may  not  be  confined  to  the 
urinary  canal.  It  may  extend  to  the  bladder,  the  kidneys, 
the  seminal  ducts  and  the  testicles.  When  the  testicles  be- 
come involved  in  the  disease,  they  are  almost  certain  to  be 
irreparably  damaged  and  the  result  in  time  may  be  sterility. 
One  of  the  most  serious  and  painful  complications  results 
from  the  extension  of  the  disease  to  the  prostate,  causing 
acute  or  chronic  prostatitis.  It  is  very  difficult  to  reach  and 
destroy  the  germs  in  this  region,  and  chronic  infection,  with 
frequent  relapses,  is  likely  to  occur. 

A  fact  which  should  be  more  generally  understood  is  the 
great  susceptibility  of  the  eye  to  gonorrheal  infection.  The 
39 


656  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

resulting  inflammation  is  most  violent  and  is  almost  certaia 
to  destroy  the  eyesight  if  the  most  thoroughgoing  measures 
are  not  employed  with  great  promptness. 

In  women  the  disease  is  very  likely  to  extend  to  the 
ovaries  and  Fallopian  tubes,  causing  pelvic  abscess  and 
necessitating  removal  of  the  affected  parts  by  an  abdominal 
operation.  Many  thousands  of  innocent  women  have  under- 
gone this  mutilating  operation  without  knowing  the  real 
cause  of  their  suffering.  There  are  laws  upon  the  statute 
books  which  recognize  the  communication  of  an  infectious 
disease  as  a  crime.  Is  it  not  time  that  such  laws  should  be 
rigidly  enforced?  Should  not  pure  and  innocent  women  be 
protected  against  the  horrible  suffering  and  irreparable  in- 
jury inflicted  upon  them  by  husbands  who  have  become  in- 
oculated with  a  horrible  "vice  disease"  while  sowing  "wild 
oats"? 

Gonorrhea  is  usually  contracted  by  impure  sexual  con- 
tact, but  the  infection  may  be  communicated  through  the 
medium  of  a  towel  or  other  objects  which  have  been  con- 
taminated by  an  infected  person.  A  person  suffering  from 
the  disease  should  exercise  the  greatest  care  to  avoid  con- 
veying the  disease  to  his  own  eyes  or  exposing  other  persons 
to  infection  through  infection  of  his  hands.  So  far  as  pos- 
sible soiling  of  the  hands  by  contact  with  the  discharge  must 
be  avoided;  and  while  infected,  care  should  be  taken  to 
touch  no  other  part  of  the  clothing  or  any  other  object  that 
is  likely  to  be  afterward  touched  by  the  patient  or  any  one 
else. 

Symptoms. — The  first  symptoms  of  the  disease  are  usually 
noticed  two  or  three  days  after  exposure.  The  first  mani- 
festations are  itching,  jingling,  or  simply  slight  uneasiness 
about  the  meatus,  or  mouth  of  the  urethra,  which,  on  ex- 
amination, is  found  to  be  red  and  slightly  stuck  together  by 
a  viscid,  colorless  secretion.  The  discharge  is  at  first  very 
slight,  but  increases  rapidly,  and  soon  becomes  thick  and 
yellowish.  On  passing  urine,  a  slight  smarting  sensation  is 
felt.  The  disease  may  remain  at  this  stage  any  length  of 
time,  from  half  a  day  to  two  or  three  days.  Sooner  or 
later,   however,   the   symptoms   become   much   aggravated 


DISEASES  PECULIAE  TO  MEN  656  a 

through  extension  of  the  disease  into  the  deeper  portions  of 
the  urethra,  and  the  Avhole  organ  becomes  swollen  and 
tender,  the  discharge  thick  and  green,  and  the  passage  of 
urine  occasions  a  severe  scalding  sensation.  Violent  erec- 
tions are  frequently  experienced,  as  is  also  chordee,  a  con- 
dition in  which  the  organ  is  drawn  into  the  shape  of  a  bow 
during  erections,  a  very  painful  and  distressing  condition. 

In  simple  cases  which  pursue  a  natural  course,  the  inflam- 
mation subsides  after  one  to  six  weeks ;  but  in  many  cases  it 
will  continue  indefinitely,  if  not  properly  treated,  in  the 
form  of  gleet,  which  sometimes  lasts  for  years.  In  this  form 
of  the  disease,  the  discharge  may  be  so  slight  as  to  be  readily 
overlooked,  but  may  be  detected  by  pressing  the  urethra 
from  behind  forward.  By  this  means  a  few  drops  of  milky 
discharge  can  be  squeezed  out  at  the  orifice  of  the  urethra. 

One  of  the  most  serious  and  frequent  results  of  this  dis- 
ease is  stricture,  the  extent  of  which  may  vary  from  the 
very  slightest  degree  of  obstruction  to  complete  closure  of 
the  canal.  The  possible  consequences  of  a  stricture  are  the 
very  worst  imaginable ;  and  a  person  who  has  acquired  this 
unfortunate  condition  is  certain  to  be  subjected  to  many  in- 
conveniences, and  may  be  compelled  to  endure  great  suffer- 
ing therefrom. 

Treatment. — When  taken  quickly  in  hand  by  a  thoroughly 
competent  physician  this  disease  may  usually  be  readily  and 
completely  cured.  Unfortunately,  the  patient  usually  tries 
to  cure  himself,  or  resorts  to  some  advertising  specialist  who 
generally  does  irreparable  damage  by  harsh  or  inefficient 
methods.  The  best  remedies  known  are  rest  in  bed  and  ap- 
plication of  silver  of  suitable  strength.  A  one-per-cent  solu- 
tion of  nitrate  of  silver  or  a  twenty-five-per-cent  solution  of 
argyrol  applied  several  times  a  day  are  most  effective  reme- 
dies in  acute  gonorrhea. 

In  chronic  gonorrhea  much  stronger  solutions  must  be 
used.  Successful  treatment  of  this  condition  requires  the 
highest  skill  of  the  expert  specialist. 

If  one  eye  becomes  affected,  the  other  eye  should  be  at 
once  protected  by  a  "Buller's  shield." 


656  b  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 


Gonorrheal  Rheumatism 

This  is  one  of  the  results  of  the  generalized  infection  by 
the  gouoeoccus  through  diffusion  of  the  germs  or  their  poi- 
sons by  means  of  the  blood.  This  is  one  of  the  most  painful 
and  dangerous  forms  of  rheumatism.  Not  only  the  joints, 
but  the  heart  may  be  affected,  and  the  injury  may  be  perma- 
nent, through  damage  to  the  heart  valve  or  the  destruction 
of  one  or  more  important  joints. 

In  addition  to  rest  and  other  remedies  usually  employed 
in  rheumatism  these  cases  often  require  the  use  of  a  special 
"vaccine,"  the  effects  of  which,  when  properly  employed, 
are  sometimes  almost  magical.  "Vaccines"  may  also  be 
employed  in  other  obstinate  or  chronic  forms  of  the  disease. 

Too  much  emphasis  cannot  be  laid  upon  the  importance 
of  continuing  the  treatment  until  the  last  vestige  of  the  dis- 
ease is  thoroughly  eradicated.  The  mere  stoppage  of  the  dis- 
charge is  not  proof  of  a  cure.  The  gonococcus  often  hides 
for  years  in  prostate  and  other  deep  structures  after  a  severe 
attack,  and  reappears  in  an  acute  relapse  after  sexual  in- 
dulgence, taking  cold,  the  use  of  alcohol,  and  even  without 
apparent  cause. 

No  man  who  has  had  gonorrhea  has  any  moral  or  legal 
right  to  marry  unless  he  knows  that  he  has  been  thoroughly 
cured.  The  occurrence  of  this  disease  in  young  men  within  re- 
cent times  has  become  so  common  that  it  is  no  longer  safe  for 
a  young  woman  to  marry  without  the  assurance  of  her  own 
safety  by  a  certificate  of  health.  Fortunately  methods  are 
now  known  through  which  all  reasonable  doubt  may  be 
eliminated,  even  in  most  obscure  cases,  by  examination  of  the 
blood. 

Again  the  reader  is  most  earnestlj^  warned  against  self- 
treatment.  It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  this  disease  is 
usually  contracted  through  an  act  which  is  a  violation  of  the 
laws  of  God  and  man.  The  fact  of  possession  of  the  disease  is 
usually  evidence  of  the  commission  of  a  crime.  The  fact  that 
so  large  a  proportion  of  young  men  are  guilty  of  immor- 
ality is  no  excuse  and  does  not  in  any  way  mitigate  the  just 
penalty  which  Nature  inflicts.  Again  we  repeat  that  any  per- 


DISEASES   PECULIAR   TO    MEN  657 

son  finding  himself  afflicted  with  this  disorder  should 
at  once  seek  a  skilful  physician  for  advice,  and  should 
give  the  matter  serious  attention  until  the  disease  is 
wholly  eradicated. 

Chancroid. — This  disorder,  sometimes  termed  sim- 
ple venereal  ulcer,  was  until  recently  regarded  as  a 
form  of  true  syphilis.-  It  is  now  known  to  be  simply 
a  local  disease.  It  is  an  infectious,  eating  ulcer,  which 
progresses  rapidly  when  left  to  itself,  and  sometimes 
destroys  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  part  at- 
tacked. The  ulcer  usually  makes  its  appearance  within 
one  to  two  hours  after  exposure.  Buboes,  or  hard 
swellings  in  the  groin,  often  appear  in  connection  with 
this  disease.  Chancroid,  sometimes  termed  soft  chan- 
cre, is  distinguished  from  the  ulcer  which  marks  the 
beginning  of  true  syphilis,  by  the  fact  that  the  tissues 
surrounding  it  are  soft,  while  in  true  chancre  the  sore 
has  a  hard  or  indurated  feeling.  Another  peculiarity 
of  the  soft  chancre  is  that  if  a  portion  of  the  discharge, 
which  is  very  copious,  is  introduced  beneath  the  skin, 
or  applied  to  a  raw  surface  in  any  way,  a  new  sore  is 
produced,  whereas  the  sore  of  true  syphilis  is  not  capa- 
ble of  being  propagated  by  inoculation  in  the  same 
individual. 

This  disorder  requires  vigorous  and  prompt  atten- 
tion; and  a  person  suffering  with  it  should  place  him- 
self immediately  under  the  care  of  a  thoroughly  com- 
petent physician.  One  of  the  most  essential  features 
of  the  treatment  of  this  class  of  cases  is  thorough 
cleanliness. 

Syphilis.  —The  symptoms  of  this  disease  are  too 
numerous  for  full  consideration  here,  and  we  can  only 
notice  some  of  the  chief  features  of  the  disease.  It  has 
three  distinct  stages.     The  first  is  a  local  manifesta- 


658  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

tion,  known  as  chancre.  Two  or  three  weeks,  or  longer, 
after  exposure,  a  small,  hard,  reddish  pimple  makes 
its  appearance,  usually  upon  the  genitals,  although 
eases  have  occurred  in  which  the  disease  was  contracted 
by  kissing,  when  the  chancre  was  formed  upon  the  lip. 
The  pimple  increases  in  size  for  a  few  days,  and  finally 
ulcerates,  and  discharges  slightly.  It  does  not  usually 
give  much  inconvenience,  and  is,  in  fact,  not  infre- 
quently unnoticed.  In  this  respect,  chancre  differs 
very  materially  from  chancroid,— a  very  important 
distinction.  After  a  few  daj^s  the  glands  of  the  groins 
become  somewhat  enlarged,  although  not  very  painful. 
After  one  to  three  months,  the  secondary  stage  of  the 
disease  appears,  as  an  eruption  of  red  spots,  which 
are  followed  by  pimples.  After  a  time,  larger  pimples 
or  pustules  make  their  appearance,  leaving  behind 
them  pock  marks  like  those  of  smallpox.  Ulcers  also 
appear  in  some  cases.  Simultaneously  with  the  occur- 
rence of  the  eruption,  slightly  raised  spots  of  a  whitish 
color,  known  as  mucous  patches,  appear  on  the  mucous 
membrane  of  the  lips  and  tongue  and  throat.  A  slight 
discharge  arises  from  these  patches,  which  is  of  a  very 
contagious  character.  The  patient  also  has  sore  throat, 
and  often  sore  eyes;  and  after  the  general  health  has 
become  considerably  impaired,  suffers  greatly  with 
pain  in  the  head,  arms,  legs,  breast,  and  particularly 
in  the  joints,  though  the  pain  is  not  confined  to  them 
as  in  rheumatism.  Small  swellings,  known  as  nodes, 
which  are  tender  on  pressure,  appear  on  the  shins  and 
other  parts. 

Most  of  the  above  symptoms  usually  disappear 
after  a  few  weeks,  and  the  patient  may  seem  to  be  well 
for  several  months  or  years ;  but  unless  the  disease  has 
been  properly  treated,  it  is  all  the  time  at  work  in  the 


DISEASES    PECULIAR    TO    MEN  659 

system,  and  next  makes  its  appearance  in  the  deeper 
tissues,  particularly  in  the  bones  and  cartilages  of  the 
nose  and  skull.  Not  infrequently,  the  nose  is  greatly 
disfigured,  or  even  wholly  destroyed.  The  liver,  lungs, 
kidneys,  heart,  and  other  internal  organs  are  also 
likely  to  be  affected.  No  other  disease  makes  such 
fearful  ravages  in  the  human  constitution  as  this,  or 
subjects  its  victims  to  such  horrible  sufferings  and  dis- 
figurements. It  is  also  one  of  the  most  certainly  com- 
municable by  heredity,  of  all  diseases;  and  it  is  not 
possible  for  a  physician  to  say  to  a  person  suffering 
with  this  disease,  at  any  time,  no  matter  how  long  treat- 
ment has  been  received,  that  he  is  cured,  and  may  safely 
marry.  Let  every  man  whose  blood  is  yet  pure  con- 
sider soberly  whether  he  can  afford  to  run  the  fearful 
risk  of  contamination  with  such  a  malady. 

Among  the  essentials  of  treatment  are  absolute  con- 
tinence, abstemiousness,  temperance,  and  regular  habits 
of  life.    A  physician  should  be  consulted. 


GENERAL  HEALTH  HINTS 


THE  frequent  allusion  in  the  preceding  chapters 
of  this  work  to  the  necessity  for  the  care  of  the 
general  health,  and  the  relation  of  the  various 
disorders  mentioned  to  general  bodily  health,  have 
naturally  created  in  the  mind  of  the  interested  reader 
a  desire  for  further  information  upon  this  important 
subject;  and  there  is  no  class  of  persons  for  whom 
information  of  this  character  is  more  desirable,  and 
of  greater  practical  value  if  accepted  and  carried  out, 
than  those  who  are  suffering  the  results  of  any  of  the 
forms  of  sexual  transgression  which  have  been  referred 
to  in  the  preceding  chapters.  One  who  finds  himself 
early  in  life  bankrupt  of  vitality  as  the  result  of  squan- 
dering his  nerve  force  and  physical  energies  in  the 
indulgence  of  vicious  propensities,  certainly  needs  the 
help  of  all  the  aids  to  recovery  which  can  be  afforded 
by  a  knowledge  of  the  laws  which  relate  to  the  general 
well-being  of  the  body. 

Of  those  into  whose  hands  this  work  may  fall,  there 
will  be  many  who  have  fortunately  escaped  the  pitfalls 
which  the  author  has  endeavored  faithfully  to  point 
out,  and  who,  he  trusts,  may  be  inspired  by  the  perusal 
of  this  volume,  with  that  degree  of  reverence  for  the 
crowning  work  of  the  Divine  Author  of  our  existence, 
and  such  a  sense  of  the  binding  obligation  of  physical 
law,  that  they  will  welcome  any  information  which  will 
aid  in  elevating  them  to  a  higher  plane  of  existence,  to 


GENEEAL    HEALTH    HINTS  661 


a  life  of  physical  rectitude  which  is  the  best  foundation 
for  a  high  grade  of  mental  and  moral  culture. 

It  is  hoped  that  in  the  following  pages,  which  are 
made  up  of  observations  upon  health  topics,  the  reader 
will  find  much  which  will  interest  him,  and  which  may 
prove  of  real  and  lasting  benefit  if  adopted  in  daily  life. 


HYGIENE   OF  THE  MUSCLES 

The  following  remarks  on  this  subject  are  extracted 
from  another  work  by  the  author,  "The  Home  Hand- 
Book  of  Modern  Medicine:" 

How  to  Take  Exercise.— It  is  not  sufficient  to 
simply  take  exercise  indiscriminately,  and  without  ref- 
erence to  the  object  for  which  it  is  taken,  the  manner, 
time,  etc.  It  must  be  taken  regularly,  systematically, 
at  proper  times,  and  in  proper  quantities.  Perhaps 
we  cannot  do  better  in  treating  this  subject  practically 
than  to  ask  and  answer  some  of  the  most  important 
questions  relating  to  this  matter. 

1.  When  is  the  best  time  to  exercise!  There  is  a 
popular  theory  extant  that  exercise  taken  early  in  the 
morning  has  some  specific  virtue  superior  to  that  taken 
at  any  other  time.  After  careful  observation  on  the 
subject,  we  have  become  convinced  that  this  popular 
notion  is  a  mistake  when  adopted  as  a  rule  for  every- 
body. For  many  busy  professional  men,  especially 
lawyers,  editors,  authors,  clergymen,  teachers,  and 
others  whose  vocations  keep  them  mostly  indoors,  the 
morning  may  be  the  only  time  when  exercise  can  be 
taken  conveniently;  and  if  not  taken  at  this  time  it  is 
likely  to  be  neglected  altogether.    Such  persons,  unless 


662  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

they  are  laboring  under  some  special  derangement  of 
the  health,  as  dyspepsia  or  some  other  constitutional 
malady,  had  better  by  far  take  the  morning  walk  or 
other  form  of  exercise  than  to  take  none  at  all.  How- 
ever, we  are  convinced  that  for  most  persons  the  mid- 
dle of  the  forenoon  is  a  much  better  time  to  take  any 
kind  of  active  or  vigorous  exercise.  In  the  morning, 
the  circulation  is  generally  weakest,  and  the  supply  of 
nerve  force  is  the  least  abundant.  In  the  forenoon, 
when  the  breakfast  has  been  eaten  and  digestion  has 
become  well  advanced,  the  system  is  at  its  maximum 
of  vigor ;  hence,  if  the  individual  is  at  liberty  to  choose 
his  time  for  exercise,  this  should  be  his  choice. 

For  poor  sleepers,  a  half  hour's  exercise  taken  in 
the  evening  not  long  before  retiring,  will  often  act  like 
a  soporific,  and  without  any  of  the  unpleasant  after- 
effects of  drugs. 

Vigorous  exercise  should  never  be  taken  immedi- 
ately after  a  meal,  nor  within  an  hour,  and  should  not 
be  taken  immediately  before  eating.  Disregard  for  this 
rule  is  a  very  common  cause  of  dyspepsia. 

2.  What  kind  of  exercise  shall  be  taken?  The 
answer  to  this  question  must,  of  course,  vary  with 
the  individuaL  Exercise  must  be  modified  to  suit  the 
strength,  the  age,  the  sex,  and  even  the  tastes  of  the 
individuaL  As  a  general  rule,  persons  who  take  exer- 
cise for  health  are  apt  to  overdo  the  matter,  the  result 
of  which  is  damage  rather  than  benefit.  For  most 
persons,  there  is  no  more  admirable  and  advantageous 
form  of  exercise  than  walking;  but  many  find  walking 
simply  for  exercise  too  tedious  to  persevere  in  it  regu- 
larly. Such  will  find  advantage  in  walking  in  com- 
panies, provided  care  is  taken  to  avoid  all  such  ques- 
tionable diversions  as  walking  matches,  or  any  kind 


GENERAL  HEALTH  HINTS  663 

of  exercise  in  which  there  will  a  strife  which  will  be 
likely  to  excite  to  excess. 

Horseback-riding,  for  those  who  ride  well  and  enjoy 
this  form  of  exercise,  may  be  of  great  benefit.  It  is  not 
so  well  suited  for  ladies  as  for  men,  however,  on  ac- 
count of  the  awkward  and  unnatural  manner  in  which 
custom  compels  them  to  ride.  It  is  impossible  for  a 
lady  to  ride  with  the  same  degree  of  comfort,  ease,  and 
grace  that  her  male  companion  may,  on  account  of  the 
one-sided  way  in  which  she  sits  in  the  saddle.  In  many 
countries,  ladies  ride  in  the  same  manner  as  men ;  with 
them,  of  course,  this  objection  does  not  hold. 

Horseback-riding  is  an  excellent  aid  to  digestion, 
and  often  effectually  relieves  habitual  constipation  of 
the  bowels. 

Carriage-riding  is  worth  little  as  a  form  of  exercise, 
except  for  very  feeble  invalids,  for  whom  the  gentle 
swaying  of  the  vehicle  and  the  excitement  of  viewing 
objects  seldom  seen  may  be  sufficient  and  appropriate 
exercise.  Elding  in  a  lumber  wagon  over  a  corduroy 
road  is  about  the  only  kind  of  carriage-riding  which  is 
worth  speaking  of  as  exercise  for  people  in  ordinary 
health. 

Skating,  rowing,  racing,  baseball,  football,  dancing, 
and  most  other  exercises  of  the  sort  are  more  often 
harmful  than  otherwise,  because  carried  to  excess,  and 
associated  with  other  evils  of  a  pernicious  character. 
Performance  upon  the  trapeze,  boxing,  and  pugilistic 
training  are  open  to  the  same  objection.  Calisthenics, 
for  schoolchildren  and  young  students,  is  a  most  admi- 
rable form  of  exercise.  It  is  also  well  adapted  to  inva- 
lids who  are  unable  to  walk  more  than  a  short  distance 
at  a  time.  In  our  opinion,  every  home  ought  to  be 
equipped  with  all  the  conveniences  for  parlor  gymnas- 


664  PLAIN    FACTS    FOB   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

tics.  They  afford  not  only  healthful  exercise,  but  a 
large  amount  of  excellent  amusement  for  the  little  folks. 

For  the  majority  of  persons,  no  form  of  exercise  is 
more  highly  beneficial,  healthwise,  than  some  kind  of 
physical  labor.  For  ladies,  general  housework  is  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  bring  into  use  all  the  different 
muscles  of  the  body,  while  affording  such  a  variety  of 
different  exercises  and  such  frequent  change  that  no 
part  need  be  very  greatly  fatigued.  There  are  thou- 
sands of  young  ladies  pining  under  the  care  of  their 
family  physician  in  spite  of  all  he  can  do  by  the  most 
learned  and  complicated  prescriptions,  for  whom  a 
change  of  air  or  a  year's  residence  in  some  foreign 
clime,  or  some  similar  expensive  project,  is  proposed, 
when  all  in  the  world  that  is  needed  to  make  the  deli- 
cate creatures  well  is  to  require  them  to  change  places 
with  their  mothers  for  a  few  weeks  or  months.  Let 
them  cease  thrumming  the  piano  or  guitar  for  a  time, 
and  learn  to  cook,  bake,  wash,  mend,  scrub,  sweep, 
and  perform  the  thousand  and  one  little  household 
duties  that  have  made  their  mothers  and  grandmothers 
well  and  robust  before  them.  We  made  such  a  pre- 
scription once  for  a  young  lady  who  had  been  given 
up  to  die  of  consumption  by  a  gray-headed  doctor,  and 
whose  friends  were  sadly  watching  her  decline,  and  in 
six  weeks  the  young  miss  was  well,  and  has  been  so 
ever  since;  but  we  entailed  her  everlasting  dislike,  and 
have  no  doubt  that  any  physician  or  other  person  who 
should  adopt  the  same  course  in  similar  cases  will  often 
be  similarly  rewarded. 

For  young  men,  there  is  no  better  or  healthier 
exercise  than  sawing  and  chopping  wood,  doing  work 
about  the  house  and  in  the  garden,  caring  for  horses 
or  cows,  clearing  walks,  bringing  water,  or  even  help- 


GENEEAL    HEALTH    HINTS  665 

ing  their  mothers  in  laundry  work.  Such  exercise  is 
light,  varied,  oft  changing,  and  answers  all  the  re- 
quirements for  health  most  admirably.  We  can  heart- 
ily recommend  it,  and  from  personal  experience,  too. 
We  advise  all  young  men  who  can  possibly  get  a  chance 
to  adopt  this  form  of  exercise  as  being  the  most  certain 
of  bringing  back  the  largest  returns  for  a  given  ex- 
penditure of  force.  There  is  no  gymnasium  in  the  world 
which  is  better  calculated  to  secure  excellent  results 
from  exercise  than  the  kitchen,  the  wash-room,  the 
workshop,  the  woodyard,  the  barn,  and  the  garden. 
These  are  nature's  gymnasia.  They  require  no  outlay 
for  special  appliances,  and  are  always  fitted  up  for  use. 

Deficient  Exercise  by  Students.  —The  common 
idea  that  study  and  brain  work  are  harmful  has  chiefly 
grown  out  of  the  fact  that  students  usually  confine 
themselves  too  closely  to  their  books,  keep  late  hours, 
and  take  as  little  as  possible  of  active  out-of-door  exer- 
cise. There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  majority  of  stu- 
dents could  do  more  work  and  better  if  they  would 
devote  at  least  two  hours  of  each  day  to  purely  physical 
exercise.  In  ancient  Greece,  in  the  palmy  days  of  that 
empire,  physical  training  was  considered  as  much  a 
part  of  the  necessary  education  of  young  men  as  their 
mental  culture.  Every  inducement  was  offered  to  them 
to  make  themselves  strong,  vigorous,  and  athletic. 
Their  schools  were  called  gymnasia,  on  account  of  the 
attention  given  to  gymnastics. 

The  young  women,  too,  were  trained  in  physical 
exercises  as  well  as  the  young  men.  Small  waists  and 
delicate  forms,  white,  soft,  helpless  hands  and  tiny  feet 
were  not  prized  among  the  pioneers  of  modern  civili- 
zation. The  mothers  of  heroes  and  philosophers  were 
not  pampered  and  petted  and  spoiled  by  indulgence. 


666  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

They  were  inured  to  toil,  to  severe  exercise.  Their 
bodies  were  developed  so  as  to  fit  them  for  the  duties 
of  maternity,  and  give  them  such  constitutions  to  be- 
queath to  their  children  as  would  insure  hardihood, 
courage,  and  stamina  in  the  conflict  with  the  world  to 
obtain  a  subsistence,  and  with  human  foemen  in  the 
rage  of  battle.  The  women  developed  by  this  system 
of  culture  were  immortalized  in  marble,  and  the  beauty 
of  their  forms  has  been  the  envy  of  the  world  from 
that  day  to  this ;  yet  no  one  seems  to  think  of  attempt- 
ing to  gain  the  same  beauty  in  the  same  way.  It  might 
be  done;  there  is  no  reason  why  it  cannot  be;  but  the 
only  way  is  the  one  which  the  Grecian  women  adopted, 
—physical  culture. 

Overtraining.  —The  careful  observation  of  results 
in  large  numbers  of  cases  shows  very  clearly  that  there 
is  such  a  thing  as  overtraining,  and  that  excessive 
development  of  the  muscular  system  is  not  only  a  dis- 
advantage, but  absolutely  harmful.  Trainers  are  not 
long-lived.  Dr.  Winship,  who  developed  his  muscles 
until  he  was  able  to  lift  three  thousand  pounds,  died 
when  he  should  have  been  in  his  prime.  The  result 
of  overtraining,  or  excessive  development  of  the  mus- 
cular system,  is  the  weakening  of  other  vital  parts  of 
the  body.  Sjonmetrical  development  is  the  best  for 
health  and  long  life.  This  is  what  we  plead  for,  not 
for  extremes  in  any  direction.  Let  the  nerves  and  the 
muscles  be  developed  together  and  equably,  and  we 
shall  have  better  results  from  both  than  would  other- 
wise be  possible.  Mens  sana  in  corpore  sano  was  the 
motto  of  the  ancient  Greeks;  and  the  experience  of 
every  day  shows  that  the  man  with  strong  muscles  and 
good  digestion,  with  fair  intellectual  abilities,  is  the 
one  who  wins  the  goal  to-day  in  the  strife  for  wealth 


"  With  heel  and  shoulder,  fist  and  thigh, 
A.  rush  to  conquer  or  to  die." 


667-a 


HARMFUL  SPORTS 


Ot)7-b 


668 


THE  HOME  GYMNASIUM 


EXERCISES  FOR  THE  CHEST    AND    TRUNK  669 

(From  "Ladies'  Guide  in  Health  and  Disease,"  by  J.  H.  Kellogg,  M.  D.) 


"0  SWEDISH  GYMNASTICS 

(From  "Swedish   Movements  or   Medical   Gymnastics,"   by  Dr.  Hartelius,  of   Sweden.) 


DELSARTE  AND  CORD  DRILL 


671 


WAND  DRILL 

IFiom  'Gill's  Calhthfnir  Exztcises.') 


ARM  AND  TRUNK  EXERCISES 


674-a 


HEALTHFUL  RECREATION 


674-b 


PRISCILLA  AT  THE  SPINNING   WHEEL 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  675 

and  fame  and  all  that  men  seek  after.  "A  sound  mind 
in  a  sound  body"  is  as  necessary  for  assured  success 
in  life  in  the  twentieth  century  as  when  the  sentiment 
was  first  inscribed  upon  the  gates  of  the  temples  of 
ancient  Greece. 

Necessity  for  Unrestrained  Action.— A  muscle 
tied  up  is  rendered  as  helpless  as  though  it  were  para- 
lyzed. It  will  be  observed  that  when  a  muscle  acts,  it 
does  so  by  swelling  out  in  thickness,  while  contracting 
in  length.  From  this  it  will  be  evident  that  if  a  tight 
band  is  put  around  a  muscle  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
prevent  its  expansion  or  increase  in  thickness,  it  can- 
not possibly  act.  Hence,  a  fundamental  requisite  of 
healthful  muscular  action  is  entire  freedom  from  re- 
straint. Unrestrained  action  is  indispensable  to  com- 
plete action  and  perfect  development.  When  a  broken 
arm  is  done  up  in  a  splint  for  a  few  weeks,  upon  re- 
moving the  bandage  it  is  usually  found  that  the  arm 
has  shrunken  in  size;  the  muscles  have  wasted,  partly 
in  consequence  of  pressure,  and  partly  on  account  of 
the  enforced  inaction  of  the  muscles.  The  very  same 
thing  happens  whenever  pressure  is  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  muscular  tissues. 


THE  TOBACCO  BONDAGE 

The  following  forcible  article  on  the  subject  of 
tobacco-using  was  contributed  by  Hon.  Neal  Dow,  in 
response  to  an  invitation  of  the  author,  to  the  columns 
of  his  journal,  Good  Health,  some  years  ago,  but  is  so 
excellent  as  to  be  deserving  of  a  more  permanent  rec- 
ord than  the  columns  of  a  monthly  journal.  It  is  well 
worthy  of  thoughtful  perusal: 

'*!  do  not  think  there  is  in  the  world  a  more  absurd 


676  PLAIN   FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND  YOTJNG 

custom  than  that  of  the  tobacco  habit.  There  are  many 
things  about  it  worse  than  the  absurd,  but  this  particu- 
lar feature  is  in  my  mind  now.  The  Chinese  women 
have  crippled  feet,  which  renders  it  almost  impossible 
for  them  to  walk;  it  is  not  their  fault,  the  deformity  is 
inflicted  upon  them  in  childhood.  The  natives  of  some 
barbarous  countries  are  tattooed,  the  operation  inflict- 
ing upon  them  great  and  protracted  pain.  The  natives 
of  some  other  countries  have  flattened  heads,— a  wrong 
imposed  upon  them  from  their  infancy.  Some  African 
tribes  knock  out  the  two  upper  front  teeth  of  every  male, 
and  others  have  the  front  teeth  filed  like  those  of  a  saw. 
There  are  many  other  deformities  found  among  sav- 
ages, but  none  of  them  so  absurd  as  the  tobacco  habit. 

"Here  is  a  minister,  possibly  a  doctor  of  divinity, 
smoking  a  cigar;  there  is  a  reason  for  it,  there  must 
be;  what  is  it?  Ask  him.  He  will  say,  'It's  a  great 
pleasure.'  Is  that  true?— No,  it's  false;  it  is  not  in 
any  proper  sense  a  pleasure.  Then  why  does  he  prac- 
tice that  disgusting  habit!— Because  it  is  a  necessity 
to  him,  not  because  it's  a  pleasure.  How  a  necessity? 
—Because  if  he  could  not  smoke,  he  would  be  in  great 
torment. 

"The  hard  drinker  does  not  take  the  alcohol 
because  he  likes  it,  but  for  the  same  reason  that  the 
tobacco  slave  takes  that  drug;  viz.,  if  he  did  not,  he 
would  be  in  agony.  The  alcoholic  slave  has  brought 
himself  by  degrees  into  his  wretched  condition,  pre- 
cisely in  the  same  way  that  the  tobacco  slave  has  lost 
his  liberty,  but  with  far  more  excuse,  or  rather  with 
far  less  liability  to  the  contempt  of  men  of  independent 
minds  and  independent  ways  of  life  and  action.  Why?- 
—Because  all  alcoholic  drinks  can  be  easily  made  ex- 
tremely pleasant  to  the  taste  of  beginners  in  the  down- 


NATURE'S  BEVERAGE 


677-a 


I 

^^1 

H 

P 

^^ll^ 

'^I^^^^^^^H 

^^Hi 

H| 

IRv^flli 

lb.            \!S^^^H 

r  BSI 

3i# 

bii^BO^^HI 

r  ^BHj 

1^ 

^S^ 

^^fi 

E2^S 

I^2^^|BJ^^BL^^n^^ 

DRINKS  THAT  POISON  AND  ENSLAVE  677-b 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  679 

ward  road,  which  is  never  the  case  with  tobacco.  This 
is  so  loathsome  and  disgusting  and  repulsive  to  the 
system  that  in  acquiring  the  tobacco  habit,  the  novice 
is  desperately  sick  for  days,  sometimes  for  many  weeks. 
There  is  scare aly  any  other  sickness  so  dreadful  as 
that  caused  by  the  tobacco  to  beginners.  There  is 
dreadful  vomiting,  with  splitting  headache,  livid  lips, 
parched  tongue,  and  eyes  like  those  of  dead  fish. 

''Then  why  do  these  poor  fools  persevere?— Be- 
cause they  are  such  very  poor  fools  as  to  believe  it 
to  be  manly  to  smoke  or  chew!  Why?— Because  others 
do  it.  Men  or  boys,  even  of  independent  minds,  judge 
for  themselves  as  to  what  is  right  and  proper  or  other- 
wise, and  will  not  be  led  into  any  habit  or  way  of  life 
blindly,  simply  because  others  do  it. 

''But  now  the  young  man  has  'conquered  his  preju- 
dices' and  has  'learned  to  smoke.'  What  has  he  ac- 
quired by  it?— Nothing  but  the  tobacco  habit.  Is  there 
no  good  in  it  whatever,  no  pleasure?— None;  it  is  sim- 
ply the  tobacco  habit  which  has  such  a  mastery  over 
its  victim  that  he  must  yield  to  its  demands  under  the 
penalty  of  intolerable  pain  and  suffering,  pains  so  great 
that  it  is  very  difficult  for  the  strongest  men  to  endure 
them. 

"I  called  at  a  gentleman's  office  one  day,  and  found 
him  smoking.    I  said  to  him : 

"  'What  would  you  give  if  you  had  never  learned 
to  smoke?'    He  paused  a  moment,  and  replied: 

"  'Every  dollar  I  have  in  the  world.' 

"  'Then  why  do  you  not  abandon  the  habit?' 

"  'I  cannot  now  do  that;  I  could  not  endure  the 
suffering  it  would  cause  me. ' 

' '  Ask  any  man  of  forty  years,  and  he  will  tell  you 
he  is  very  sorry  he  learned  to  use  tobacco,  but  cannot 


680  PLAIN    FACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

now  abandon  the  habit.  A  friend  of  mine  was  a  to- 
bacco slave  for  many  years,  and  had  made  frequent  vain 
attempts  to  emancipate  himself.  At  last,  he  resolved 
that,  come  what  might,  he  would  be  a  wretched  slave 
to  tobacco  no  longer.  He  told  me  afterward  that  the 
struggle  with  the  habit  was  more  fearful  than  he  could 
describe,  and  added  that  all  the  money  in  the  Bank  of 
England  would  not  tempt  him  to  endure  the  like  again. 

^'Can  a  smoker  be  an  honest  and  honorable  man"? 
Can  he!  I  do  not  answer,  I  ask  the  question.  In  the 
street,  on  steamboats,  in  public  places,  in  railway  cars, 
everywhere,  in  fact,  except  in  smoking  cars  or  in  smok- 
ing rooms,  we  have  a  right,  all  of  us,  to  the  free,  fresh, 
pure  air.  This  is  as  much  our  right  as  the  purse  in 
our  pocket.  No  one  has  more  right  to  take  it  from  us 
than  he  has  to  pick  our  pockets.  Has  he!  I  ask  the 
question.  It's  my  view  that  he  has  not.  Am  I  mis- 
taken! To  pick  a  pocket  is  stealing,  robbery;  what  is 
it  to  take  away  the  pure  air  from  another,  and  to  put 
stinking,  poisoned  air  in  its  place? 

*'To  sit  beside  another  at  the  table,  and  sprinkle  his 
food  with  cayenne  pepper  or  cover  it  with  mustard,  or 
flavor  it  with  asafetida,— what  would  such  a  procedure 
be  called!  What  word  is  there  in  our  language  by 
which  to  characterize  it!  How  would  that  differ  from 
infusing  a  disgusting  stench  into  the  air  for  others  to 
breathe!  To  flavor  or  poison  another's  food  in  that 
way  would  be  called  an  intolerable  abomination,  and 
the  doing  of  it  would  expose  the  party  to  a  summary 
expulsion  from  decent  society.  But  the  poisoning  of 
the  air  which  others  must  breathe  is  so  common  a  thing 
to  do,  so  many  persons  practice  it  who  would  not  pick 
a  pocket  or  poison  other  people's  food,  that  most  per- 
sons do  not  look  upon  it  in  its  true  light. 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  681 

^'I  have  often  seen  in  the  streets,  ladies  and  others 
walk  very  slowly  or  stop  upon  the  sidewalk  to  allow 
the  smoke  to  pass  on  out  of  smelling  distance.  I  have 
also  seen  people  cross  the  street  to  avoid  the  stench  of 
tobacco,  which  to  many  persons  is  intolerable.  Have 
these  people  an  undoubted  right  to  the  free,  fresh  air 
as  they  walk  the  streets?  Then  what  term  are  we  to 
apply  to  the  act  of  poisoning— for  tobacco  smoke  is  a 
poison— the  air  for  them  to  breathe?  How  may  we 
justly  stigmatize  those  who  do  it? 

^'  ^But  people  can  endure  the  tobacco  smoke,  they 
can  pass  along  the  streets  in  spite  of  it.  Then  why 
make  a  fuss  about  it?'  Yes,  so  they  co^dd  pass  the 
sidewalks  somehow,  if  piled  up  with  boxes,  bales,  and 
barrels,  and  intersected  with  ditches  and  holes;  but 
for  all  that,  people  have  a  right  to  unencumbered  pas- 
sage ways.    Am  I  wrong  ? ' ' 


A  HEALTHY  SMELL 

Some  years  ago  we  had  occasion  to  request  a  gentle- 
man to  give  attention  to  the  condition  of  his  backyard, 
which  was  in  great  need  of  the  services  of  a  scavenger, 
containing,  in  addition  to  a  very  foul  barnyard  and 
a  much-neglected  priv>%  the  carcasses  of  two  dead 
horses  buried  a  little  beneath  the  surface.  AVe  ex- 
pected that  only  a  gentle  hint  would  be  necessary  to 
secure  prompt  attention  to  the  matter,  as  the  party  was 
almost  a  fanatic  on  the  subject  of  diet.  Imagine  our 
surprise  when  this  radical  advocate  of  vegetarianism 
and  many  other  good  reforms  retorted,  "Some  people's 
noses  turn  up  at  every  little  smell.  "WTiy!  a  barnyard 
smell  is  the  healthiest  kind  of  a  smell,  and  I  have  al- 
ways been  told  it  was  good  for  consumption." 

40 


682  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

There  was  a  time  when  such  notions  seem  to  have 
been  generally  prevalent.  A  few  hundred  years  back, 
the  streets  of  London  were  in  a  worse  condition  than 
the  backyard  referred  to,— a  cordial  invitation  for  the 
Great  Plague,  which  came  in  due  time.  According  to 
an  eminent  European  authority,  personal  cleanliness 
was  for  a  thousand  years  so  universally  disregarded 
''that  scarce  a  man,  woman,  or  child  throughout  Eu- 
rope made  a  practice  of  daily  ablution.  During  this 
carnival  of  filth,  again  and  again  the  Black  Death  rav- 
aged European  countries.  In  the  reign  of  Justinian, 
as  Gibbon  records,  a  large  proportion  of  the  human 
race  was  swept  away  by  an  epidemic  which,  with  but 
slight  intermissions,  raged  for  fifty  years.  In  Con- 
stantinople, one  thousand  grave-diggers,  in  constant 
employ,  could  not  hide  away  fast  enough  the  victims 
of  this  dreadful  disorder.  We  have  all  been  made 
acquainted,  through  the  ghastly  i^icture  drawn  by 
Boccaccio,  with  the  fearful  plague  that  desolated  Flor- 
ence in  the  fourteenth  century,  and  by  Defoe,  with  the 
ravages  of  the  Great  Plague  in  London." 

Wlien  spring  approaches,  it  is  important  to  be  on 
the  lookout  for  possible  sources  of  air  contamination 
when  the  winter  ice  is  melted,  and  the  conditions  favor- 
able for  decomposition  are  developed.  Let  every  nook 
and  corner  of  the  house,  the  cellar,  the  backyard,  and 
the  entire  premises  be  thoroughly  inspected  so  as  to 
eradicate  every  possible  source  for  germs  to  germinate 
and  multiply.  The  germ  question  has  come  to  be  an 
intensely  practical  one;  and  everybody  ought  to  know 
enough  about  it  to  be  fully  awake  to  the  danger  from 
this  source,  and  anxious  to  take  every  precaution  to 
escape  injury  themselves  and  secure  safety  to  others. 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  683 

CLOTHING    OF    CHILDREN 

A  point  of  primary  importance  in  regard  to  the 
clothing  of  children,  which  mothers  should  ever  bear 
in  mind,  is  the  fact  that  frequent  changes  are  necessi- 
tated by  the  almost  constant  changes  of  temperature 
in  this  climate.  The  weather  of  a  temperate  climate  is 
always  subject  to  changes,  which  will  be  recognized, 
and  should  be  as  far  as  possible  anticipated,  by  the 
careful  mother.  Children  possess  very  little  power  to 
resist  the  influence  of  cold  or  heat.  Their  vital  func- 
tions, while  very  active,  are  more  easily  disturbed  than 
those  of  older  people,  hence  they  are  more  susceptible 
to  injury  from  change  of  weather  than  older  persons. 
Mothers  should  be  constantly  on  the  lookout  for 
changes  which  may  involve  the  life  of  their  little  ones. 
The  fashion  of  putting  on  flannel  undergarments  at 
the  beginning  of  the  cold  season  of  the  year  and  put- 
ting them  off  again  at  the  beginning  of  spring,  is  a 
pernicious  one.  There  is  no  time  of  year  when  flannel 
clothing  is  more  imperiously  required  than  in  the  cool, 
damp  days  of  spring  and  the  occasional  cool  days  in 
summer.  Clothing  should  be  adjusted  to  the  weather 
of  each  day  independently.  In  the  wintertime,  an 
unusually  cold  day  demands  an  additional  supply  of 
clothing;  in  summertime,  an  unusually  hot  day  may 
require  an  opposite  change  of  garments.  In  the  spring 
and  autumn,  particularly  when  the  weather  is  very 
changeable,  it  may  be  necessary  to  change  the  clothing 
two  or  three  times  a  day  in  order  to  meet  the  exigencies 
of  the  weather. 

Children  should  never  be  allowed  to  suffer  for  the 
want  of  a  change  of  this  kind  simply  because  the  needed 
garment  has  been  soiled  or  must  be  saved  for  Sunday 


684  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

wear,  or  for  any  other  trivial  reason.  If  a  child  cannot 
be  properly  clothed,  it  should  be  sent  to  bed  and  kept 
there  until  the  proper  garments  can  be  provided  for  it. 
The  excuse  which  mothers  often  make  for  carelessness 
in  this  f)articular,  that  ''they  have  been  too  busy"  to 
make  the  necessary  garments  for  the  little  one  who  has 
outgrown  its  old  clothing,  is  no  justification  for  such 
neglect ;  and  it  will  generally  be  found  that  the  required 
time  has  been  worse  than  wasted  in  the  preparation  of 
unwholesome  dishes  which  will  have  no  other  influ- 
ence than  to  deprave  the  taste  and  to  undermine  the 
health  of  husband  and  children,  or  in  the  entertain- 
ment of  fashionable  friends  who  are  themselves  squan- 
dering, in  the  discussion  of  the  latest  fashions  or  the 
most  recent  scandal  suit,  valuable  time  which  belongs 
properly  to  their  children. 

The  clotliing  of  the  child  at  night  is  also  a  matter 
of  importance.  As  a  rule,  flannel  nightgowns  should 
be  worn,  as  by  this  means  the  little  one  avoids  the  chill 
often  given  by  coming  in  contact  with  cotton  or  linen 
sheets,  and  is  better  protected  from  the  chilly  night  air 
if,  as  is  often  the  case,  it  becomes  uncovered  in  the 
night  by  the  displacement  of  the  bed  covers  through 
its  restlessness. 


POPULAR  MEDICAL  EDUCATION 

For  some  years  in  the  past  there  has  been  much 
discussion  among  promient  physicians  respecting  the 
propriety  of  encouraging  the  education  of  the  common 
people  in  medical  subjects.  Among  a  certain  class  of 
the  profession  there  has  been  great  opposition  to  the 
popularization  of  medical  subjects,  it  being  claimed 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  685 

that  more  harm  than  good  would  result  by  so  doing, 
since  unqualified  persons  would  thereby  be  led  to  under- 
take the  management  of  cases  which  required  the  edu- 
cated judgment  and  skill  which  are  possessed  alone  by 
the  physician  who  has  had  a  long  course  of  training 
in  the  schools  and  an  extensive  experience  at  the  bed- 
side. We  have  long  believed  that  this  objection  was 
based  on  a  partial  or  prejudiced  view  of  the  subject, 
and  that  a  consideration  of  its  various  bearings  from 
a  more  liberal  standpoint  would  lead  candid  thinkers 
to  a  different  conclusion.  It  would  not  be  urged  that 
because  every  one  cannot  become  proficient  in  all  the 
abstractions  of  modern  theology,  the  masses  should  be 
kept  in  utter  ignorance  of  religious  theories,  notwith- 
standing the  possibility  that  such  knowledge  might  be 
used  in  an  unwise  manner  under  some  circumstances. 
Every  man  who  desires  to  do  so  has  as  good  a  right 
to  learn  all  he  is  capable  of  comprehending  of  the  sci- 
ence of  medicine,  as  well  as  of  the  science  of  mathe- 
matics, astronomy,  law,  or  any  other  department  of 
human  knowledge. 

We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  quote  the  following  very 
sensible  paragraphs  on  this  subject  from  an  address 
read  before  the  Michigan  State  Medical  Society,  by 
Thomas  N.  Reynolds,  M.  D.,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics  and  of 
Clinical  Medicine  in  Detroit  Medical  College,  and  vis- 
iting physician  to  St.  Mary's  Hospital: 

"In  view  of  the  fact  that  there  is  still  in  the  world 
the  most  extraordinary  misconception  with  regard  to 
the  true  functions  of  medicine  and  medical  men,  it  may 
not  seem  wholly  unfit  that  we  should  somewhat  briefly 
advert  to  it  here. 

"As  it  existed  among  the  people  in  earlier  times,  it 


686  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

amuses  us  now  perhaps  more  than  it  surprises  us ;  and 
when  we  recognize  it  still  here  and  there  among  those 
in  lowly  favored  circumstances  of  life,  it  usually  makes 
little  or  no  impression  upon  us;  but  when  we  so  often 
see  it  among  the  refined  and  cultured  of  our  time,  we 
are  sometimes  led  to  inquire  why  it  is.  But  this  mis- 
conception is  not  confined  entirely  to  the  laity  or  to 
the  crude  charlatan,  but  more  or  less  pervades  the 
educated  and  legitimate  fraternity  itself;  and  it  is  no 
uncommon  thing  to  see  among  the  younger  members 
of  our  profession  men  confidently  attributing  to  medi- 
cines particular  cures  that  they  never  produced.  And 
even  the  older  practitioners,  with  quite  an  abiding 
faith,  sometimes  prescribe  remedies  that  serve  little 
more  than  to  mutually  satisfy  the  mind  of  the  patient 
and  the  doctor  that  the  necessary  and  essential  thing 
has  been  done  in  the  premises, 

"This  undue  credit  to  the  effect  of  the  drugs  pre- 
scribed, when  it  occurs  among  medical  men,  probably 
arises  mostly  from  the  habit  and  routine  of  always  pre- 
scribing in  certain  approved  manners  in  certain  kinds 
of  cases;  and  when  improvement  takes  place,  forget- 
ting to  allow  sufficiently  for  the  healing  power  of  time 
and  nature  herself. 

''As  nothing  but  hard-earned  experience  and  fre- 
quently disappointed  hopes  in  his  scientific  prescrip- 
tions will  ever  thoroughly  convince  the  young  practi- 
tioner of  their  frequent  inutility,  so  nothing  but  the 
proper  kind  of  education  on  these  matters  will  ever 
convince  the  people  of  their  frequent  too  great  con- 
fidence in  the  efficacy  of  drugs  alone. 

''To  this  end  the  study  of  anatomy,  physiology, 
hygiene,  and  particularly  the  laws  of  life,  with  the 
influence  thereon  of  habits,  conditions,  and  surround- 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  687 

ings,  should  enter  largely  into,  and  be  assiduously  car- 
ried all  the  way  through,  the  education  of  the  young, 
even  if  it  be  to  the  exclusion  of  almost  no  matter  what 
other  branch  besides.  And  if  the  use  of  drugs  be  re- 
ferred to  at  all  in  their  education,  it  should  be  with  a 
special  care  that  they  be  taught  the  facts  as  they  are, 
—that  the  essential  and  useful  drugs  are  really  few, 
and  their  administration  rarely  necessary;  that  in  the 
aggregate  in  the  world  it  is  probable  enough  that  more 
harm  is  being  yearly  done  by  their  indiscriminate  and 
unskilled  use  than  there  is  good  by  their  timely  and 
judicious  employment. 

' '  Physicians  can  do  much  more  than  is  usually  done 
in  this  direction  by  their  individual  influence  in  prac- 
tice. Each  physician  should  constantly  endeavor  to 
establish  in  the  minds  of  his  patrons  the  fact  that  they 
should  seek  intelligent  opinions  and  skilled  advice  more 
than  prescriptions.  And  even  at  an  occasional  risk  of 
losing  patronage,  when  medicine  is  not  required  at  all, 
he  should  dare  to  say  so,  and  give  the  right  advice 
instead.  Doctors  should  be  educators  more  than  physic- 
mongers.  Whatever  time  the  occasion  demands  should 
be  taken  to  fully  explain  the  trouble  for  which  persons 
present  themselves,  and  the  best  regulation  of  living  to 
be  adopted  under  the  circumstances ;  and  for  this  opin- 
ion and  advice  alone,  when  kindly  given,  they  should, 
and  generally  will,  expect  to  pay. 

"If  imposition  and  quackery  are  ever  removed  or 
lessened  at  all,  it  will  be  in  exact  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  correct  information  and  thorough  enlighten- 
ment the  people  may  obtain  on  this  entire  subject;  for 
it  can  never  avail  very  much  that  a  few  educated  and 
honorable  practitioners  labor  to  bring  the  compara- 
tively few  whom  they  reach,  up  to  a  reasonable  and 


688  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

correct  estimation  of  the  practice  of  medicine,  while 
the  masses  remain  unable  to  discriminate  between  the 
imaginary  and  what  is  real  in  it,  or  between  the  artful 
and  unscrupulous  pretender  and  the  genuine  medical 
man.  As  long  as  there  is  a  general  and  popular  de- 
mand for  the  different  forms  of  quackery,  there  will 
always  be  found  an  ample  supply;  and  legislation, 
though  necessary  and  good  as  far  as  it  goes,  can  never 
entirely  j^revent  it.  The  early  and  continued  educa- 
tion of  each  individual  on  the  subject  is  the  only  suc- 
cessful remedy." 


THE  HYGIENE  OF  OLD  AGE 

At  no  period  of  life  is  a  careful  observance  of  the 
laws  of  health  of  so  imperious  importance  as  in  ad- 
vanced age.  The  vital  machinery  is  worn  and  weak- 
ened, the  vitality  at  a  low  ebb,  and  it  is  of  paramount 
importance  that  all  unnecessary  hindrances  should  be 
removed,  that  every  removable  obstacle  to  the  healthy 
performance  of  the  bodily  functions  should  be  taken 
out  of  the  way.  Thousands  of  lives  are  annually  sac- 
rificed through  the  mistaken  idea  that  hygienic  rules 
which  are  acknowledged  to  apply  to  young  persons  and 
adults  are  not  to  be  observed  by  those  in  advanced 
age.  For  example,  many  popular  writers  maintain 
that  while  the  use  of  wine  as  a  beverage  by  youth  and 
adults  cannot  be  condemned  too  strongly,  it  is  neces- 
sary for  the  aged,  as  a  means  of  stimulating  the 
declining  forces. 

Another  writer  condemns  bathing  by  the  aged, 
because,  it  is  claimed,  it  uses  up  the  animal  heat. 

The  error  of  the  first  theory  is  apparent  when  the 


GENERAL  HEALTH  HINTS  689 

fact  is  recalled  that  stimulation  lessens,  instead  of 
reinforcing,  vital  strength,  thus  weakening  the  hold  on 
life,  and  shortening  its  duration.  The  fallacy  of  the 
second  theory  is  equally  api^arent  when  we  take  into 
consideration  the  fact  that  in  old  age  the  wastes  of  the 
body  are  greatly  increased.  The  discharges  from  all 
the  outlets  of  the  body  are  more  heavily  laden  with 
organic  impurities  than  during  youth  and  adult  age. 
The  breath  is  laden  with  the  poisonous  products  of  dis- 
integration, and  the  perspiration  with  effete  matter. 
It  is  for  this  reason  that  a  sudden  obstruction  of  any 
of  these  outlets  is  so  speedily  followed  by  fatal  results. 
If  frequent  bathing  is  neglected,  the  skin  becomes  ob- 
structed, and  the  kidneys  are  overworked.  The  urine 
becomes  irritating  in  character,  and  inflammation  or 
congestion  of  the  bladder  is  likely  to  be  the  result.  We 
have  met  scores  of  cases  of  irritable  bladder  in  elderly 
men  which  could  be  traced,  in  a  great  part  at  least, 
to  neglect  of  the  bath. 

Old  jDcrsons  should  recollect,  that  the  bath  is  par- 
ticularly necessary  for  them  as  a  sanitary  measure. 
As  the  waste  of  the  body  preponderates  over  the  re- 
pair, the  skin,  if  unwashed,  soon  becomes  covered  with 
a  film  of  the  most  intensely  poisonous  and  readily 
decomposable  matter.  A  few  days'  accumulation  is 
enough  to  iiroduce  a  condition  not  only  in  the  highest 
degree  detrimental  to  the  individual  himself,  but  of- 
fensively injurious  to  all  persons  of  acute  olfactory 
sensibilities  who  may  be  closely  associated  with  him. 

It  is  true  that  cold  bathing  may  be,  and  generally  is, 
in  a  high  degree  injurious  to  aged  persons ;  but  bathing 
in  water  at  or  near  the  temperature  of  the  body  can- 
not be  more  productive  of  harm  than  putting  on  a  clean 
suit  of  clothes.    Cleanliness  is  enforced  by  one  of  the 


690  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

first  laws  in  the  ''code  of  health,"  and  is  binding  at 
all  times  and  at  all  ages.  The  greatest  enemy  of  health 
is  dirt ;  and  the  worst  of  all  kinds  of  dirt  is  that  which 
arises  from  the  destructive  processes  at  work  in  the 
body. 


MOUTH-BREATHING 

Few  persons  are  aware  that  this  practice,  so  very 
common,  is  specially  harmful,  and  many  will  be  sur- 
prised when  we  say  that  it  is  exceedingly  detrimental 
to  health,  even  dangerously  so.  It  is  generally  due  to 
obstructions  in  the  nasal  cavities,  either  through  thick- 
ening or  swelling  of  the  mucous  membrane,  or  the  ex- 
istence of  polypi  or  other  morbid  growths.  Sometimes 
it  is  due  to  habit  merely.  A  child  catches  cold.  The 
nasal  passages  become  obstructed,  necessitating  mouth- 
breathing  during  sleep,  when  respiration  is  involun- 
tary, and  hence  less  forcible  than  during  the  waking 
hours.  The  cold  is  soon  recovered  from,  but  the  habit 
has  been  contracted,  and  is  continued  even  to  adult 
years,  or  during  an  entire  lifetime. 

Enlargement  of  the  tonsils  is  also  a  common  cause 
of  mouth-breathing. 

Habitual  mouth-breathing  ultimately  results  in  seri- 
ous disease  of  the  throat  and  larynx.  It  is  also  the 
cause  of  the  peculiar  malformation  of  the  chest  known 
as  ''pigeon's  breast." 

The  remedy  consists  in  the  application  of  such  meas- 
ures as  will  remove  the  obstructions,  if  present.  Polypi 
must  be  removed.  Morbid  growths  must  be  removed 
or  destroyed.  Catarrh,  if  present,  must  be  cured.  If 
mouth-breathing  is  a  habit  merely,  as  is  often  the  case, 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  691 

especially  with  children,  care  should  be  taken  to  in- 
struct the  child  to  breathe  through  the  nose,  and  when 
it  goes  to  sleep  the  lips  should  be  gently  closed.  By 
perseverance,  the  habit  may  be  cured. 

In  many  cases,  mouth-breathing  is  due  to  obstruc- 
tion of  the  nostrils  by  morbid  growths.  These  cases 
require  the  attention  of  a  physician  who  has  made  a 
special  study  of  this  class  of  diseases. 


COFFEE  AND  DYSPEPSIA 

M.  Laven,  a  French  medical  authority,  in  a  paper 
read  before  the  Societe  de  Biologie,  and  published  in 
the  Rev.  Med.,  states  that  "coifee,  instead  of  accelerat- 
ing the  digestive  process  of  the  stomach,  as  is  often 
supposed,  rather  tends  to  impede  it.  When  thirty 
grams  of  coffee,  diluted  in  one  hundred  and  fifty  of 
water,  are  given  to  a  dog,  which  is  killed  five  hours 
and  a  half  afterward,  the  stomach  is  found  pale,  its 
mucous  surface  being  anemic,  and  the  vessels  of  its 
external  membrane  contracted.  The  whole  organ  ex- 
hibits a  marked  appearance  of  anemia.  Coffee  thus 
determining  anemia  of  the  mucous  membrane,  prevent- 
ing rather  than  favoring  vascular  congestion,  and  op- 
posing rather  than  facilitating  the  secretion  of  gastric 
juice,  how  comes  it  that  the  sense  of  comfort  is  pro- 
cured for  so  many  who  are  accustomed  to  take  coffee 
after  a  meal?  A  repast,  in  fact,  produces,  in  those 
whose  digestion  is  torpid,  a  heaviness  of  the  intellectual 
faculties  and  embarrassment  of  the  power  of  thinking ; 
and  these  effects,  and  the  disturbance  of  the  head,  are 
promptly  dissipated  by  the  stimulant  effect  which  the 


692  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD   AND    YOUNG 

coffee  produces  on  the  nervous  centers,  as  shown  by 
experhnents  with  catfeine.  Coffee  and  tea,  when  taken 
in  excess,  are  a  frequent  cause  of  dyspepsia;  from  the 
anemic  condition  of  the  mucous  membrane's  being 
periodically  renewed,  a  permanent  state  of  congestion 
is  at  last  produced,  which  constitutes  dyspepsia.  Cof- 
fee exerts  both  a  local  and  a  general  action,  operating 
locally  by  means  of  its  tannin,  by  diminishing  the  cali- 
ber of  the  vessels,  but  acting  on  the  general  economy 
by  exciting  the  nervous  centers  and  the  muscular 
system.  It  renders  digestion  slower,  and  is  only  of 
good  effect  by  relieving  the  feeling  of  torpor  after 
meals. ' ' 

The  evidence  against  the  use  of  tea  and  coffee  is 
accumulating  so  rapidly  that  there  can  be  no  longer 
any  doubt  as  to  the  nnpropriety  of  using  these  articles 
as  common  beverages.  They  must  be  put  in  the  same 
category  with  opium,  alcohol,  tobacco,  and  other  harm- 
ful drugs. 


ABOUT  WATER  FILTERS 

Some  time  ago  a  friend  wrote  us  asking  the  follow- 
ing questions  respecting  water  filters,  the  answers  to 
which  may  be  of  practical  interest  to  many  others: 

Questions.— 1.  Is  hard  water  rendered  soft  by  fil- 
tration 1 

2.  How  may  a  cheap  and  efficient  filter  be  con- 
structed 1 

3.  How  should  a  filter  be  taken  care  of? 
Answers.— 1.  The  hardness  of  water  is  not  removed 

by  filtration.    If  a  charcoal  filter  is  employed,  some  of 
the  mineral  ingredients  of  the  water  will  be  retained 


Cold  Feet 

Sac/    ye /7/-/ /a//o/? 


Simple    \/entilation 

Works  well  when  C/iimnei^  Draft  /s  Srro/i^. 


AIR  AND  WATER  CONTAMINATION 

(From  Dr.  Kellogg's  "Home  Hand-Book  of  Domestic  Hygiene  and  Rational  Medicine."  1600  pages.) 


5^4  HELPFUL  APPLIANCES  FOR  THE  HOME. 

(1)  Rubber  Hot-Walcr  Big.  (2l  Spine  Bag.  (3)  Throat  Ice  Bag.  (4)  Head  Bag.  (51  Chcsl  Ice  Bag.  (6)  Stomach  Tul)c. 
(7,8)  Perfection  Douche  and  Bed  Pan.  (9)  Atomizer.  ( 10)  Vaporizer.  (1 1 )  Pocket  Inhaler.  ( 1 2 )  Air  Cushion.  (13)  Ear  Syringe. 
(14)  Lung  Developer.  (15)  Abdominal  Sopporler.  ( 16)  RccUl  Irrigator.  ( 1 7 )  Natural  Fleah  Bruih.  (18)  Rubber  Urinal.  (19,20) 
Mu3cle  Bealerj.  (2J)  Cannon-B<-1l  Maiugt.  (22)  Sanitary  ^itcr  StiU.  (23)  Combined  Water  Bottle  and  Fouatain  Syribgc. 
(24)  Home  Electric  Battery. 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINT^  695 

in  the  filter,  but  no  very  considerable  proportion.  The 
use  of  hard  water  will  very  soon  spoil  the  best  filter 
made,  by  the  deposit  of  lime. 

2.  A  cheap  filter  can  be  made  by  the  following 
method : 

Take  a  large  flower  pot  or  earthen  vessel,  make  a 
hole  one-half  inch  in  diameter  in  the  bottom,  and  in- 
sert in  it  a  sponge.  Place  in  the  bottom  of  the  vessel 
a  number  of  clean  stones  of  sizes  varying  from  that 
of  an  egg  to  an  apple.  Place  upon  this  a  layer  of  much 
smaller  stones  and  coarse  gravel.  Then  fill  the  jar 
within  two  inches  of  the  top,  with  equal  parts  of  pul- 
verized charcoal  and  sharp  sand,  well  mixed.  Place 
loosely  over  the  top  of  the  jar,  a  white  flannel  cloth, 
allowing  it  to  form  a  hollow  in  the  middle,  into  which 
the  water  can  be  poured.  Secure  the  edges  by  tying 
a  stout  cord  around  the  outside  of  the  jar.  By  keep- 
ing a  suitable  vessel  under  the  filter  thus  made,  and 
supplying  rain-water  when  needed,  very  pure  water 
can  be  obtained.  It  can  be  kept  in  a  cool  place  in  the 
summer.  It  will  be  necessary  to  renew  it  occasionally, 
by  exchanging  the  old  sand  and  charcoal  for  fresh. 
The  flannel  and  sponge  must  be  frequently  cleansed. 

3.  Such  a  filter,  if  allowed  to  become  empty  every 
day,  or  every  other  day  at  least,  ought  to  last  several 
years.  Water  which  has  a  distinct  odor  should  never 
be  passed  through  a  filter.  Filtration  will  not  purify 
such  water. 


BARRICADING  AGAINST  FRESH  AIR 

In  some  parts  of  the  country,  particularly  in  the 
New  England  States,  the  houses  of  most  of  the  wealth- 
ier classes  are  furnished  with  double  windows,   and 


696  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

every  other  device  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  out  the 
cold  air  of  winter.  Apartments  are  made  as  nearly 
air-tight  as  possible;  and  in  these  close,  unventilated 
rooms,  hermetically  sealed  up,  thousands  of  persons 
annually  spend  several  months  of  the  year,  regardless 
of  the  fact  that  with  the  air  which  they  respire  day 
and  night,  they  are  inhaling  debility,  disease,  and 
death.  The  life-giving  oxygen,  which  a  beneficent 
Creator  has  supplied  in  lavish  abundance  '' without 
money  and  without  price,"  moans  anxiously  around 
these  sealed-up  houses,  seeking  in  vain  for  even  one 
small  crevice  through  which  to  find  entrance,  to  carry 
life,  energy,  and  purification  to  the  suffocating  inmates. 
Let  a  person  from  the  pure,  crisp,  outer  air,  enter 
one  of  these  magnificent  dens  of  disease.  Beautiful 
carpets  cover  the  floors,  fine  works  of  art  adorn  the 
walls,  luxurious  furniture  abounds  in  every  room,  and 
no  luxury  that  wealth  can  buy  is  wanting ;  but  oh !  what 
a  smell!  One  is  tempted  to  protect  his  olfactories 
with  a  handkerchief,  and  beat  a  hasty  retreat;  but 
courtesy  demands  that  he  should  suffer  martyrdom, 
and  so  he  sits  down  with  as  much  complacency  as  pos- 
sible, but  involuntarily  turns  wistfully  toward  the  win- 
dow now  and  then,  hoping  to  discover  some  little  crack 
or  crevice  through  which  one  breath  of  pure,  unpoi- 
soned  air  may  enter.  But  in  vain.  In  each  breath  his 
keen  sense  of  smell  discovers  ancient  smells  from  the 
kitchen,  odors  of  decomposition  from  the  cellar,  moldy 
dust  from  the  carpet,  and  worst  of  all,  the  foul  exhala- 
tions from  half  a  dozen  human  bodies,— lungs,  skins, 
stomachs,  decajang  teeth,  etc.  On  the  window-panes 
little  streams  of  organic  filth  are  seen  running  down 
to  form  pools  upon  the  window-sills.  On  all  the  outer 
walls  the  same  sort  of  condensation  of  fetid  matter  is 


GENEEALi    HEALTH    HINTS  697 

taking  place,  but  is  rendered  invisible  by  absorption 
by  the  porous  paper  and  plaster,  where  it  undergoes 
putrefactive  changes,  sending  out  foul  and  putrescent 
gases  to  add  still  further  to  the  contamination  of  the 
poison-laden  atmosphere  of  the  close  and  musty  rooms. 
Better  by  far,  from  a  hj^gienic  standpoint,  was  the 
old-fashioned  log  house,  with  its  huge  fireplace  and 
its  capacious  throat,  breathing  up  great  volumes  of 
air,  and  here  and  there  a  chink  between  the  logs,  with 
loosely  fitting  window-sash,  and  door  jambs  too  large 
for  the  doors,  extending  an  invitation  for  God's  pure, 
life-giving  oxygen  to  come  in  with  its  energizing,  vital- 
izing, purifying,  beautifying,  health-giving  potencies. 
If  every  house  were  provided  with  an  efficient,  auto- 
matic, ventilating  apparatus,  double  windows  would 
offer  no  disadvantage  to  health.  But  when  windows 
are  the  chief  means  for  the  admission  of  fresh  air  as 
well  as  of  light,  in  the  majority  of  houses,  they  may 
well  be  looked  upon  as  dangerous,  and  deserving  of 
the  most  vigorous  condemnation. 


PURIFYING  THE  BLOOD 

One  of  the  most  erroneous  of  popular  notions  is  that 
the  blood  can  be  purified  by  swallowing  some  bitter 
stuif  or  nauseous  medicine.  Dr.  Bacon,  the  modern 
substitute  for  Shakespeare,  announced  a  theory  many 
years  ago,  that  everybody  should  be  bled  in  the  spring, 
and  treated  with  purgatives,  because  the  blood  became 
so  vile  during  the  winter  that  it  was  necessary  to  purify 
it  by  emptying  the  blood-vessels.  This  was  undoubt- 
edly one  way,  and  a  robust  person  might  suffer  no  real 
harm  from  the  treatment ;  but  it  would  be  very  difficult 


698  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 


for  a  feeble  person  to  overcome  the  debility,  and  fur- 
nish a  new  supply  of  blood.  The  idea  was  good,  but 
in  such  a  radical  change  the  process  of  cure  was  so 
effective  that  it  many  times  killed  the  patient.  ' '  Cured 
to  death ' '  might  truthfully  be  written  on  a  great  many 
tombstones. 

The  modern  idea  that  the  blood  is  to  be  purified  by 
antidotes,  is  wholly  unphilosophical.  It  is  absurd  to 
think  that  you  are  going  to  make  the  blood  pure  by 
putting  something  impure  into  it.  The  blood  may  be 
purified,  but  it  must  be  by  getting  something  out  of  it. 
The  best  way  is  to  set  to  work  nature's  five  great  puri- 
fiers; the  lungs,  skin,  liver,  kidneys,  and  bowels,— the 
five  great  excretory  organs  of  the  body.  If  a  man's 
blood  is  impure,  it  is  because  he  has  been  taking  some- 
thing impure  into  it,  or  because  he  has  not  been  using 
the  excretory  organs  sufficiently  to  keep  the  impurities 
worked  out.  The  first  step  would  be  to  stop  putting 
impurities  into  the  blood,  if  that  is  what  is  the  matter. 
People  who  live  grossly,  eating  flesh  meats,  pastry, 
etc.,  and  perhaps  swallowing  such  things  as  tea  and 
coffee,  wine  and  beer,  and  may  be  tobacco,  are  con- 
stantly overtaxing  the  excretory  organs.  Living  a 
sedentary  life  is  another  way  to  encourage  the  deposit 
of  impurities  in  the  blood,  there  not  being  sufficient 
muscular  exercise  in  such  cases  to  assist  in  throwing 
off'  the  waste  particles  of  the  body. 

To  make  the  skin  more  active,  take  a  hot  bath  once, 
twice,  or  three  times  a  week.  If  vigorous,  one  can 
stand  a  Turkish  or  vapor  bath  every  day  for  a  while. 
Do  anything  to  get  up  a  sweat;  drink  hot  water,  and 
wrap  up  in  warm  blankets.  A  good  vapor  bath  can 
be  taken  in  any  ordinary  bath-tub,  by  putting  a  slat 
bottom  in  the  tub,  or  a  board  with  holes  in  it,  so  as 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  699 

to  allow  a  space  at  the  bottom  of  the  tub  which  will  be 
free  for  a  running  stream  of  hot  water.  Lie  down  on 
this  slat  bottom,  cover  the  tub  with  heavy  blankets, 
and  you  will  have  as  good  a  vapor  bath  as  need  be 
given.  A  Swedish  shampoo,  or  a  soap  and  water  bath, 
or  scouring  the  skin  off  with  a  brisk  ''salt  glow," — 
any  or  all  of  these  ways  are  good  for  getting  up  a 
healthy  action  of  the  skin. 

Next  endeavor  to  make  the  lungs  work  so  vigorously 
as  to  increase  the  supply  of  oxygen.  A  person  walking 
at  the  rate  of  three  miles  an  hour  breathes  three  times 
as  much  air  as  one  who  is  sitting  still ;  and  one  walking 
at  the  rate  of  four  miles  an  hour,  breathes  five  times 
as  much  as  one  sitting  still.  When  sitting,  one  breathes 
only  about  twenty  cubic  inches— about  two-thirds  of 
a  pint— at  each  inhalation,  the  furnace  door  of  the 
body  being  almost  closed;  but  as  just  noted,  even 
moderate  walking  triples  the  capacity  for  taking  in  air. 
With  every  breath,  we  throw  off  a  certain  amount  of 
impurities;  at  the  four-miles-an-hour  pace  we  may  not 
throw  off  five  times  as  much  waste  matter  as  when  sit- 
ting still,  but  we  will  api)roximate  that  amount,  per- 
haps about  four  times  as  much.  Another  advantage 
in  deep  breathing  is  that  the  oxygen  taken  into  the 
lungs  goes  into  every  nook  and  cranny,  and  gets  along- 
side every  nerve  and  fiber  of  the  body,— everywhere 
this  clogging  material  is  lodged,— and  carries  it  out. 
It  is  a  great  house  cleaner;  it  sweeps  down  the  cob- 
webs, and  shakes  the  curtains.  That  is  why  the  skin 
looks  clearer  and  fresher.  Let  a  person  whose  skin 
is  dingj^,  dirty,  and  sallow,  go  out  of  doors  and  take 
regular  and  vigorous  exercise.  The  fresh  supply  of 
oxygen  thus  gained  will  very  soon  tell  upon  the  appear- 
ance of  the  skin. 

41 


700  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

The  liver  may  be  set  to  work,  and  by  the  same 
means  the  bowels  and  the  kidneys  can  be  made  more 
active,  and  that  is  simply  by  the  frequent  drinking 
of  pure  water.  The  old  German  water-cure  doctors 
found  this  out  almost  a  hundred  years  ago.  Old  Dr. 
Pressnitz,  of  Graefenberg,  used  to  recommend  from 
twelve  to  twenty  glasses  of  water  a  day,  to  be  taken  in 
connection  with  mountain  climbing.  There  were  beau- 
tiful springs  along  the  mountain  side,  and  walking  and 
climbing,  his  patients  would  drink  from  six  to  twelve 
glasses  before  breakfast,  and  the  dose  could  be  re- 
peated two  or  three  times  in  the  course  of  a  day. 
Water  is  the  best  means  of  all  for  cleansing  the  stom- 
ach, liver,  and  kidneys.  Every  part  of  the  body  is 
permeated  and  cleansed.  When  we  take  water  into 
the  stomach,  it  is  absorbed,  and  by  the  muscular  action 
of  the  diaphragm  this  pure  water  is  drawn  into  the 
body,  and  carries  impurities  out. 

It  is  very  interesting  to  notice  how  all  these  reme- 
dies co-operate:  warm  baths  to  make  the  skin  active; 
exercise  to  make  the  lungs  more  active;  and  hot-water 
drinking  to  increase  the  activity  of  the  kidneys,  bowels, 
and  liver.  The  warm  baths  take  some  of  the  fluids  out 
of  the  blood.  Persons  may  lose  even  two  pounds— 
that  means  two  pints  of  water— through  the  skin  in  a 
hot  bath.  This  excretion  carries  with  it  a  large  quan- 
tity of  impurities,  and  this  makes  a  person  thirsty, 
and  increases  the  amount  of  water-drinking,  which 
supplies  the  water  taken  from  the  blood,  while  the 
water-drinking  promotes  the  sweating,— action  and 
reaction  constantly.  By  exercise  the  lungs  are  made 
to  act  more  vigorously.  This  increases  the  action  of 
the  diaphragm,  and  that  squeezes  the  liver  and  presses 
the  old  bile  out  of  it;  and  this,  again,  augments  the 


GEJSTERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  701 

water-drinking.  Again,  exercise  induces  perspiration, 
and  that  in  turn  also  increases  the  water-drinking. 
Each  means  helps  the  others  all  the  time,  and  in  this 
way  the  blood  is  readily  purified.  But  it  cannot  be 
done  by  a  "tonic,"  or  '^blood-purifier."  Every  one 
of  the  nostrums  advertised  under  these  various  names 
contains  from  six  to  fifty  per  cent  of  bad  whisky  or 
alcohol,  and  yet  the  great  majority  of  people  depend 
upon  them  as  purifying  agencies,  instead  of  upon  the 
natural  ones  enumerated. 


SMOKING  A  CAUSE   OF  CONSUMPTION 
AND  BRIGHT'S  DISEASE 

One  of  the  most  celebrated  European  specialists  re- 
cently called  attention  to  the  fact  that  consumption  is 
becoming  exceedingly  prevalent  among  cigar-smokers. 
The  reason  for  this  is  evident.  The  fact  that  persons 
of  feeble  or  diseased  constitution  are  frequently  em- 
ployed in  the  manufacture  of  cigars,  coupled  with  the 
enforced  confinement  in  a  close  and  foul  atmosphere, 
renders  this  class  of  laborers  especially  liable  to  con- 
sumption. It  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  to  see  two 
or  three  loud  consumptives  in  a  single  cigar  factory. 
Of  course,  the  mouth  and  lips  are  constantly  soiled 
with  the  expectorated  matter;  and  when  the  cigar- 
maker  puts  on  the  finishing  touch  to  the  cigar  by  mois- 
tening it  with  his  lips,  he  infects  it;  and  the  man  who 
smokes  the  cigar  thereby  becomes  vaccinated  with  the 
disease.  It  may  not  be  a  matter  to  be  so  greatly  re- 
gretted, that  the  race  of  cigar-smokers  should  be  killed 
otf,  although  it  must  be  admitted  that,  through  igno- 


702  PLAIN    PACTS   FOR   OLD   AND   YOUNG 


ranee,  many  excellent  men  are  addicted  to  the  practice ; 
but  the  nonusers  of  cigars  are  interested  in  this  matter 
almost  as  much  as  those  who  smoke,  for  the  reason 
that  the  person  suffering  from  consumption  will  be  a 
source  of  infection  to  others.  We  have,  in  more  than 
one  instance,  been  able  to  trace  consumption  in  a  wife 
to  the  care  of  a  consumptive  husband ;  and  so  the  smok- 
ing husband  might  easily  infect  an  unoffending  wife, 
from  whom  the  disease  might  in  turn  be  communicated 
to  innocent  children.  Cigar-smoking  must  be  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  dangerous  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
loathsome  practices  tolerated  among  civilized  people. 

Dr.  Auld,  of  Glasgow,  also  raises  a  warning  voice 
when  he  states  an  important  fact  which  seems  to  have 
been  heretofore  overlooked;  viz.,  that  tobacco  may  be 
a  cause  of  organic  disease  of  the  kidneys.  As  is  well 
known,  the  appearance  of  albumen  in  the  urine  is  the 
leading  symptom  of  Bright 's  disease  of  the  kidneys. 
Dr.  Auld  finds  that  the  use  of  tobacco  is  often  accom- 
panied by  this  sj-mptom,  and  lays  it  down  as  one  of 
the  results  of  chronic  nicotine  poisoning. 

This  eminent  physician  has  done  the  world  a  valu- 
able service  in  calling  attention  to  this  important  fact. 
He  also  states  that,  according  to  his  observations, 
tobacco  is  responsible  for  a  very  large  number  of  func- 
tional disorders  not  commonly  attributed  to  it.  He 
finds  that  tobacco  poisons  both  the  nerve  centers  and 
the  nerve  ends,  causing  muscular  twitching  and  vari- 
ous other  nervous  symptoms. 

Dr.  Auld  makes  the  important  observation  that 
when  these  symptoms  are  found  present,  it  is  not  nec- 
essary merely  to  moderate  the  use  of  the  drug,  but  it 
must  be  wholly  discarded ;  otherwise,  a  cure  cannot  be 
effected.    This  is  contrary  to  the  advice  of  most  physi- 


GENERAL,    HEALTH    HINTS  .  703 

cians,  who  commonly  prohibit  only  what  they  term 
excess.  We  have  for  many  years  observed,  however, 
that  half-way  measures  will  not  do  in  these  cases. 
Tobacco  must  be  discarded  wholly  and  forever. 

The  amount  of  nerve  energy  and  vital  force  that  is 
being  squandered  by  the  use  of  this  drug  is  beyond 
estimate.  If  the  sum  total  of  human  life  and  strength 
sacrificed  to  tobacco  could  be  represented  in  figures,  the 
aggregate  would  be  astounding.  Tobacco  is  unques- 
tionably one  of  the  worst  of  all  the  curses  of  civili- 
zation. It  certainly  is  equaled  only  by  two  vices— 
inebriety  and  immorality.  The  mischief  done  by 
opium,  cocaine,  and  other  vice-drugs  is  enormous,  but 
incomparable  beside  the  far-reaching  evils  justly  at- 
tributable to  the  use  of  tobacco.  Thousands  of  men 
are  kept  in  a  state  of  chronic  lethargy  by  its  narcotic 
influence.  Millions  of  consciences  are  benumbed  by 
its  subtle  spell.  Countless  nmltitudes  of  children  are 
born  with  weak  nerves  and  feeble  constitutions,  as  the 
result  of  the  chronic  nicotine-poisoning  of  parents. 

The  use  of  the  vile  drug  by  civilized  man  is  one  of 
the  enigmas  of  modern  civilization.  The  old  Greeks 
and  Romans,  who  shaped  the  foundations  of  our  mod- 
ern civilization,  used  neither  tobacco,  tea,  nor  cotfee, 
nor  strong  liquor.  If  they  had  indulged  in  these  stimu- 
lants as  do  men  and  women  of  the  present  day,  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  by  the  present  time  the  human  race 
would  have  been  deteriorated  to  the  vanishing  point, 
with  the  possible  exception  of  those  savage  tribes  who 
may  have  been  preserved  by  their  isolation  from  the 
influence  of  these  destructive  agents.  Unless  a  radical 
change  for  the  better  can  be  effected  within  a  few  gen- 
erations to  come,  the  condition  of  the  then  existing  race 
at  the  present  rate  of  deterioration,  is  fearful  to  con- 


704  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

template.  Extinction  would  come  at  last  as  a  benefi- 
cent act  of  nature,  who  desires  only  the  survival  of 
the  fittest. 


TEA  AND  INDIGESTION 

The  popular  idea  that  tea,  coffee,  cocoa,  wine,  and 
other  beverages  commonly  used  at  meals,  promote 
digestion,  has  been  clearly  proved  by  reliable  physio- 
logical experiments  to  be  an  error.  According  to 
J.  W.  Frazer  and  W.  Eoberts,  all  these  substances 
interfere  with  digestion.  Tea,  coffee,  and  cocoa  re- 
tard the  digestion  of  proteids,  although  the  action  of 
coffee  is  somewhat  less  intense  than  that  of  tea.  The 
volatile  oil,  as  well  as  the  tannic  acid  of  tea,  was  found 
to  have  a  retarding  effect  upon  peptic  digestion.  It 
is  well  that  this  fact  be  known,  as  the  idea  has  become 
prevalent  that  tea  is  harmless  if  the  infusion  is  quickly 
made,  so  as  to  obtain  the  volatile  oil  without  so  great 
a  quantity  of  tannic  acid  as  is  dissolved  by  longer 
infusion.  Wine  also  retards  peptic  digestion,  as  was 
clearly  shown  by  W.  Roberts.  This  effect  of  wine  and 
other  alcoholic  liquors  was  so  marked  that  Sir  Wil- 
liam Roberts  concluded,  as  the  result  of  his  experi- 
ments, that  wine  and  other  alcoholic  liquors  are  chiefly 
useful  as  a  means  of  slowing  down  the  too  active  diges- 
tion of  the  modern  civilized  man,  thus  acting  as  a  safe- 
guard against  what  he  terms  "a  dangerous  accelera- 
tion of  nutrition."  However  much  the  digestion  of 
the  average  Englishman  may  require  slowing  down, 
the  average  American  certainly  does  not  need  to  put 
brakes  upon  his  digestive  apparatus. 

Both  Roberts  and  Frazer  also  showed  that  the 
effect  of  wines  and  tea  is  inimical  to  salivary  digestion. 


GENEKAL    HEALTH    HINTS  705 

Tea,  even  in  a  very  small  quantity,  completely  para- 
lyzed the  pty aline  of  the  saliva,  while  wine  jDromptly 
arrested  salivary  digestion.  Salivary  digestion  was 
not  formerly  considered  a  matter  of  very  great  con- 
sequence, as  it  was  supposed  that  the  action  of  saliva 
upon  the  digestion  of  food  was  quickly  suspended  in 
the  stomach  by  the  secretion  of  hydrochloric  acid;  but 
the  observations  of  Ewald  and  others,  which  have  been 
confirmed  by  the  author  in  the  chemical  examination 
of  nearly  three  thousand  stomach  liquids,  indicates  that 
salivary  digestion  proceeds  in  a  normal  stomach  so 
rapidly  as  to  cause  the  complete  disappearance  of 
starch  by  the  end  of  the  first  hour  of  digestion.  Many 
cases  of  intestinal  dyspepsia  are  doubtless  due  to  the 
failure  of  salivary  and  peptic  digestions  in  the  stomach. 


FOOD  COMBINATIONS 

Many  persons  suffer  from  indigestion,  not  because 
they  eat  too  much,  or  because  they  eat  indigestible 
articles  of  food,  but  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  the  sev- 
eral articles  of  food  taken  together  do  not  make  natural 
and  wholesome  combinations.  The  principle  involved 
in  the  question  of  the  proper  combination  of  foods  is 
simply  this,— different  articles  of  food  are  digested 
chiefly  or  entirely  in  different  portions  of  the  alimen- 
tary canal ;  for  instance,  meat  is  chiefly  digested  in  the 
stomach,  while  the  digestion  of  milk  takes  place  almost 
entirely  in  the  small  intestines.  Fats  and  cane  sugar 
are  digested  only  in  the  intestines.  Vegetables  require 
considerable  digestion  in  the  stomach  as  a  preparation 
to  intestinal  digestion.  Fruits,  if  well  disintegrated, 
leave  the  stomach,  as  a  rule,  within  an  hour  or  two 


706  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

after  eating ;  while  meats  and  vegetables  require  from 
three  to  five  hours  for  the  completion  of  stomach  diges- 
tion in  persons  whose  stomachs  are  in  a  normal  condi- 
tion; a  still  longer  time  is  required  when  the  digestion 
is  very  slow.  Milk  is  digested  in  one  and  one-half 
hours.  Boiled  rice  and  other  well-cooked  grains  are 
digested  in  one  to  two  hours. 

While  it  is  well  to  introduce  a  considerable  variety 
of  foodstuffs  into  the  bill  of  fare,  it  is  not  wise  to  take 
too  many  different  kinds  of  food  at  a  single  meal.  The 
gastric  juice  which  is  best  adapted  to  the  digestion  of 
one  food  may  be  ill-adapted  to  the  digestion  of  another. 
Food  containing  a  considerable  amount  of  protein,  for 
example,  requires  a  large  amount  of  very  active  gas- 
tric juice,  while  liquid  foods  containing  a  considerable 
amount  of  fat,  such  as  milk,  cream,  buttermilk,  or  rich 
gravy,  require  very  little  gastric  juice  and  diminish 
the  amount  of  gastric  juice  produced  by  the  stomach. 
It  is  evident,  then,  that  the  combination  of  two  kinds 
of  foods  might  result  disastrously,  one  food  failing  to 
digest  because  of  a  deficiency  of  the  necessary  diges- 
tive fluid,  and  the  other  remaining  a  long  time  in  the 
stomach  after  it  should  have  passed  on  for  treatment 
in  the  small  intestine.  This  is  one  of  the  causes  of  bil- 
iousness, and  it  is  for  this  reason  that  fats  are  gener- 
ally known  to  be  productive  of  ''biliousness"  when 
taken  freely.  The  eminent  physiologist,  Pawlow,  has 
proven  by  experiments  upon  animals  and  human 
beings  that  different  foodstuffs  require  different  sorts 
of  gastric  juice  for  digestion,  and  especially  made 
clear  the  importance  of  simplicitj^  in  dietetic  habits. 

Persons  who  suffer  from  hyperacidity  should  avoid 
the  use  of  strongly  acid  fruits  and  starchy  foods,  and 


GENERAL  HEALTH   HINTrt  709 

if  care  is  taken  to  tlioronglily  Fletclierize  jy  masticate 
the  food  so  that  every  morsel  enters  the  stomach  in  a 
liquid  or  semi-liquid  state,  it  will  not  be  found  neces- 
sary to  give  other  attention  to  the  matter  of  combina- 
tions than  has  been  indicated  above. 

Mustard,  pepper  sauce,  and  all  other  condiments, 
together  with  pastry,  fried  meats,  soda  biscuits,  hot 
breads,  and  cheese,  are  likely  to  disagree  with  whole- 
some food,  and  are  unfit  for  the  human  stomach. 


CUTTING  OFF  SUPPLIES 

The  eminent  Dr.  Tronchin,  of  Paris,  considered 
abstinence  from  food  as  the  best  of  all  remedies  for 
disease,  probably  because  he  regarded  most  disorders 
as  the  result  of  overfeeding,  a  conclusion  with  which 
we  heartily  agree,  at  least  if  bad  feeding  is  included. 
"Good  generals,"  said  Dr.  Tronchin,  ''always  attempt 
to  cut  off  the  enemy's  supplies.  I  put  my  patients  on 
spare  diet  at  once,  and  bring  the  enemy  to  terms  by 
famine."  The  great  Napoleon  seems  to  have  had  the 
same  idea.  ' '  AYlien  I  am  not  well, ' '  said  Napoleon,  ' '  I 
fast,  bathe,  and  rest.  If  I  am  taken  sick  while  I  am 
resting,  I  exercise.  If  taken  ill  while  hard  at  work,  I 
rest ;  but  in  all  cases,  I  fast.    I  find  that  is  all  I  need. ' ' 


A  STRONG   DIET 

Those  who  imagine  that  grains  and  farinaceous 
foods  are  what  is  commonly  called  a  "light  diet,"  or 
are  lacking  in  the  elements  calculated  to  produce  bod- 
ily strength  and  vigor,  will  be  surprised  at  the  follow- 
ing quotation: 


710  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

*'Tlie  Japanese  have  made  a  race  of  strong  men — • 
a  race  of  wrestlers.  These  wrestlers  often  weigh  200, 
300,  and  400  pounds.  At  the  Imperial  hotel,  in  Tokio, 
they  brought  their  champion  wrestler  to  my  room. 
He  was  prodigious  in  size  and  as  fat  and  fair  as  a 
baby.  He  was  a  Hercules  in  strength,  but  looked  like 
an  overgrown  cherub  of  Correggio. 

''  'What  do  you  eat?'  I  asked. 

'*  'Rice— nothing  but  rice.' 

"  'Why  not  eat  meat?' 

"  'Meat  is  weakening.  (Beef  is  70  per  cent  water. 
Rice  is  80  per  cent  food.)  I  ate  lean  beefsteak  once, 
and  my  strength  left  me.  The  other  man  ate  rice  and 
threw  me  down.' 

"My  courier  said:  'This  wrestler  is  the  Sullivan 
of  Japan.    No  one  can  throw  him.'  " 

Remenyi,  the  celebrated  Hungarian  violinist,  attrib- 
uted his  superb  health  and  vigor  at  fifty-nine  years  of 
age,  to  his  total  abstinence  from  alcoholics  of  any 
description,  from  tobacco,  and  from  a  meat  diet.  At 
this  age  he  was  fairly  in  his  prime,  with  a  face  as 
free  from  lines  and  wrinkles  as  an  ordinary  man  of 
thirty-five. 


THE   ENEMA 


We  ought  not  to  leave  this  subject,  without  saying 
one  word  with  reference  to  the  use  of  the  enema.  In 
eases  in  which  the  bowels  do  not  regularly  and  com- 
pletely discharge  their  contents,  the  water  enema  con- 
stitutes a  very  natural  and  comparatively  harmless 
means  of  aiding  nature.  It  must  not  be  regarded  as 
a  substitute  for  the  natural  process,  but  should  be  used 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  711 

only  as  an  emergency  method.  When  habitually  em- 
ployed, it  not  infrequently  becomes  ineffectual,  so  that 
a  daily  movement  cannot  be  secured,  even  by  its  aid, 
the  difficulty  being  as  great  as  before  this  means  was 
used.  This  is  one  of  the  difficulties  which  arise  from 
the  abuse  of  this  simple  measure  of  treatment.  Pa- 
tients suffering  from  habitual  headache,  especially 
nervous  headache  or  sick  headache,  are  often  living 
in  a  state  of  constant  poisoning,  as  the  result  of  the 
absorption  of  toxic  substances  from  retained  fecal  mat- 
ters. For  such  cases,  the  enema  is  a  measure  of  great 
value.  It  should  be  administered  in  such  cases  two  or 
three  times  a  week,  and  should  be  taken  thoroughly. 
For  an  ordinary  enema,  one  or  two  pints  of  water 
at  a  temperature  of  about  80°  is  sufficient;  but  in  cases 
in  which  the  colon  has  become  greatly  distended,  and 
in  which  there  is  a  tendency  to  the  accumulation  of 
fecal  matters,  a  large  enema  taken  in  a  peculiar  fash- 
ion, and  which  we  have  termed,  for  convenience,  a 
coloclyster,  is  preferable.  For  the  coloclyster,  two,  or 
in  some  instances  even  three,  quarts  of  water  are  re- 
quired. The  patient  should  lie  upon  the  right  side, 
so  that  the  water  may  be  led  by  gravity  to  enter  the 
first,  or  ascending,  portion  of  the  colon.  In  some  cases 
it  is  better  to  have  the  patient  take  the  knee-chest  posi- 
tion. To  assume  this  position,  the  patient  first  kneels, 
then  inclines  the  body  forward  until  the  thighs  are 
perpendicular,  and  the  upper  part  of  the  chest  in  con- 
tact with  the  couch.  In  this  position  the  entrance  of 
the  water  into  the  colon  is  facilitated,  and  a  larger 
quantity  can  be  received  while  the  water  is  flowing  into 
the  colon.  Gentle  manipulation  of  the  bowels  with 
one  hand  will  aid  in  filling  the  colon,  and  in  loosening 
and  softening  hardened  masses. 


712  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

The  use  of  the  coloclyster  is  seldom  required  more 
than  two  or  three  times  a  week.  It  may  sometimes  be 
used  daily  for  a  week  or  two,  in  cases  in  which  an 
extensive  accumulation  has  existed  for  a  long  time, 
and  when  the  bowel  contents  are  extremely  fetid  in 
character,  or  in  cases  of  jaundice.  The  temperature 
of  the  water  employed  in  the  enema  or  coloclyster 
should  usually  be  about  75°  to  80°.  A^Hien  employed 
for  dysentery  or  cholera,  the  temperature  should  be 
105°  to  110°.  In  some  cases  of  acute  inflammation 
of  the  lower  bowels,  cold  enemas  of  a  temperature  of 
60°  or  even  40°  may  be  usefully  employed.  Enemas 
are  best  administered  with  the  fountain  or  siphon  syr- 
inge, though  any  good  syringe  may  be  used. 


CONDENSED  COMMENTS 

There  is  a  most  intimate  relation  between  health 
and  morality.  We  have  long  held  that  a  great  share 
of  the  crime  among  civilized  people  might  be  fairly 
charged  to  bad  physical  conditions,  which,  by  impair- 
ing the  physical  health,  lower  the  nerve  tone,  and  then 
the  moral  tone,  so  that  there  is  not  a  proper  apprecia- 
tion of  moral  principles  and  obligations.  Is  not  this 
a  means  of  explaining  those  strange  lapses  from  recti- 
tude on  the  part  of  men  whose  character  has  previously 
been  for  a  lifetime  above  reproach,  which  now  and 
then  so  startle  and  shock  the  moral  sense  of  the  com- 
munity? A  writer  has  suggested  that  the  unhappy 
condition  of  John  Calvin's  stomach  may  have  been  the 
real  cause  of  the  burning  of  Servetus;  and  there  is 
probably  no  doubt  that  many  a  poor  fellow  has  swung 
from  the  gallows  because  he  committed  a  crime  in  a 
fit  of  indigestion. 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  713 

One  of  the  most  mischievous  errors  current  in  mod- 
ern times  is  the  popular  notion  that  a  man  may  trans- 
gress all  the  laws  of  health  with  impunity,  and  then 
swallow  a  few  drops  of  medicine,  and  antidote  all  the 
results  of  his  evil  habits.  Diseases  are  far  less  fre- 
quently cured  by  remedies  than  most  people,  and  in- 
deed many  physicians,  suppose.  When  a  sick  person 
gets  well,  it  is  usually  because  he  has  reformed  from 
his  evil  ways,  and  nature  has  ceased  to  punish  him  for 
his  physical  sins.  Nature  cures  whenever  there  is  a 
cure.  It  has  been  suggested  by  a  very  wise  physician 
that  it  may  be  that  remedies  hinder  as  often  as  they 
aid  in  recovery.  And  it  may  be  that  patients  get  well 
in  spite  of  the  remedies  which  are  applied  outside  and 
inside,  almost  as  often  as  by  the  aid  of  them. 

In  case  of  extensive  burns,  death  occurs  probably 
not  so  much  as  the  result  of  destruction  of  the  skin, 
as  from  the  absorption  of  poisonous  matters  formed 
by  the  germs  developing  on  so  large  a  denuded  sur- 
face. The  best  means  of  preventing  this  is  the  ap]3li- 
cation,  from  the  beginning,  of  antiseptics.  It  is  impor- 
tant, however,  to  select  an  antiseptic  substance  which, 
while  destructive  of  germs  or  capable  of  preventing 
their  development,  is,  at  the  same  time,  not  poisonous 
to  the  system  in  quantities  in  which  it  is  likely  to  be 
absorbed.  A  very  excellent  remedy  for  this  purpose 
is  thymol.  The  following  ointment  possesses  great 
value  as  a  remedy  for  burns,  on  account  of  its  emollient 
healing  properties: 

Bismuth  subnitrate 20  parts. 

Yellow  vaseline .  80  parts. 

Thymol Yz  part. 

A  thick  layer  of  this  ointment  should  be  applied  to 


714  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

a  piece  of  gutta-percha  tissue,  and  laid  over  the  burn. 
The  application  should  be  changed  once  or  twice  daily. 

When  we  hear  a  man  extolling  this  or  that  remedy 
for  disease,  and  claiming  that  he  has  been  cured  in 
some  magical  way  of  a  disorder  generally  conceded  to 
be  incurable,  let  us  remember  that  there  is  a  very  great 
difference  between  being  well  and  feeling  well.  There 
is  a  very  large  class  of  remedies  the  sole  effect  of  which 
is  to  make  a  sick  man  feel  better,  but  which  have  no 
real  influence  upon  the  progress  of  a  disease,  unless 
it  be  to  hasten  it  by  using  up  the  patient's  vitality, 
and  deluding  him  into  foolish  expenditures  of  strength 
under  the  belief  that  he  is  well,  when  he  is  really  no 
better,  but  only  feels  better. 

The  best  means  to  avoid  the  infection  of  a  conta- 
gious disease  when  unavoidably  exposed,  are  the  follow- 
ing :  Always  have  good  ventilation  in  the  room.  Never 
stand  between  the  patient  and  the  fire,  but  always  be- 
tween him  and  a  fresh-air  inlet.  Never  while  in  the 
room  swallow  any  saliva;  and  after  leaving,  rinse  out 
the  mouth,  blow  the  nose,  and  wash  the  hands  and  face. 
Keep  up  good  general  health  by  good  food,  exercise, 
and  temperance.  In  addition  to  these  recommenda- 
tions, it  is  well  to  filter  all  the  air  you  breathe  while 
in  the  sick-room  by  tying  a  handkerchief  over  the 
mouth  and  nose. 

If  a  seed  or  other  foreign  substance  has  gotten  into 
the  ear,  do  not  try  to  remove  it  by  introducing  a  knit- 
ting-needle or  by  any  similar  means.  The  only  safe 
plan  is  to  syringe  the  ear  with  warm  water,  leaning 
the  head  to  one  side  so  the  object  may  drop  out  if  loos- 
ened. If  a  pea  or  a  bean  has  been  in  the  ear  so  long 
that  it  has  swelled,  and  hence  cannot  be  dislodged  by 
syringing,  it  may  be  contracted  by  holding  alcohol  in 
the  ear  for  a  short  time.  If  an  insect  gets  into  the 
ear,  pour  in  a  little  oil,  which  will  suffocate  it,  when 
it  may  be  removed  by  syringing. 

Test  for  Impure  Water.— Discard  as  dangerous, 
water  which  will  not  stand  the  following  test: 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  715 

Dissolve  in  two  tablespoonfuls  of  cistern  water 
which  has  been  thoroughly  boiled,  unless  distilled  water 
can  be  obtained,  twelve  grains  of  caustic  potash  and 
four  grains  of  permanganate  of  potash.  Add  two 
drops  of  this  solution  to  a  teacupful  of  the  water  to  be 
tested.  If  the  water  is  very  impure,  the  pink  color  at 
first  produced  will  very  quickly  disappear.  If  the  color 
disappears  within  fifteen  minutes,  the  water  is  too  im- 
pure for  safe  use. 

The  Hindoo  devotee  who,  in  blind  zeal  for  his  re- 
ligion, holds  out  his  arm  until  the  muscles  shrink  and 
shrivel  up,  leaving  the  arm  but  a  useless  appendage  of 
the  body,  violates  the  law  of  nature  which  demands 
exercise  for  health,  no  more  than  does  the  student  who 
shuts  himself  up  with  his  books  until  his  limbs  grow 
lank  and  thin,  and  his  fingers  bony  with  physical  idle- 
ness; and  the  latter  acts  no  more  wisely  in  sacrificing 
himself  upon  the  shrine  of  learning  than  the  other  in 
deforming  himself  to  appease  the  wrath  or  win  the 
favor  of  Buddha. 

When  the  sun  begins  to  circle  low  in  the  Southern 
sky,  thousands  of  invalids  prepare  for  their  annual 
pilgrimage  to  the  ' '  Sunny  South, ' '  not  stopping  to  con- 
sider that  dampness  and  malaria,  and  sultry  days  in 
midwinter  are  vastly  greater  enemies  to  health  than 
frost  and  snow.  The  fear  of  cold  is  getting  to  be  almost 
a  mania.  Cold  weather  is  a  blessing.  The  winter  ton- 
ing up  is  an  advantage  which  no  one  can  afford  to  miss 
unless  absolutely  compelled  to  forego  it. 

Thousands  of  people  are  cured  at  mineral  springs 
of  rheumatisms,  neuralgias,  ' '  biliousness, ' '  and  a  dozen 
other  diseases  which  result  from  dissipation  and  gor- 
mandizing, not  by  the  bad  tasting  minerals  and  worse 
smelling  gases  in  the  water,  but  by  the  water  in  spite 
of  its  impurities.  More  water  drinking  at  home  and 
less  beer  guzzling,  tobacco  smoking,  and  French  cook- 
ery would  cure  a  vastly  greater  number,  and  ruin  the 
mineral  water  business  in  six  months. 

If  troubled  with  sleeplessness,  eat  an  early  and 


716  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

light  supper  of  easily  digested  food;  or,  better,  eat  no 
supper  at  all.  Do  not  engage  in  exciting  conversation 
or  amusements  during  the  evening.  At  an  early  hour, 
13repare  to  retire  determined  to  sleep.  Just  before 
going  to  bed,  soak  the  feet  ten  minutes  in  a  pail  of 
hot  water,  cooling  it  a  little  at  the  close. 

Clothing  should  be  adjusted  to  the  weather  of 
each  day  independently.  In  the  wintertime,  an  un- 
usually cold  day  demands  an  additional  supply  of 
clothing;  in  the  summertime,  an  unusually  hot  day 
may  require  an  opposite  change  of  garments.  In  the 
spring  and  autumn,  when  the  weather  is  very  change- 
able, it  may  be  necessary  to  change  the  clothing  two 
or  three  times  during  the  day  in  order  to  meet  the 
exigencies  of  the  weather. 

Noxious  gases  and  disease  germs  are  usually  asso- 
ciated together,— a  fortunate  fact,  as  it  enables  us  to 
detect  the  dangerous  character  of  an  infected  atmos- 
phere without  the  trouble  of  a  chemical  analysis.  It 
is  possible  for  the  air  to  be  swarming  with  disease 
germs  without  an  offensive  odor's  being  present;  but 
the  reverse  is  seldom  true,  and  it  is  perfectly  safe  to 
say  that  a  foul-smelling  atmosphere  is  a  dangerous 
one. 

Never  allow  cold  water  to  enter  the  ears,  and  do  not 
let  the  cold  wind  blow  in  them.  If  they  must  be  ex- 
posed to  cold  air  or  water,  i^rotect  them  by  a  little  wad 
of  cotton  placed  in  the  ear.  Care  should  be  taken  to 
remove  the  cotton  as  soon  as  it  is  no  longer  needed,  as 
much  mischief  sometimes  results  from  leaving  portions 
of  cotton  or  paper  in  the  ear. 

Carefully  prepared  statistics  show  that  mental 
labor  is  conducive  to  longevity.  The  active  mental 
worker  who  takes  reasonable  care  of  his  health,  has 
greater  chance  of  long  life  than  the  man  who  devotes 
himself  to  muscular  pursuits.  Mental  labor  is  stimu- 
lating to  all  the  vital  powers,  and  conducive  to  the 
best  health. 


li 


GENERAL   HEALTH   HINTS  717 

''Health  is  wealth"  is  a  trite  maxim,  tlie  truth  of 
which  every  one  appreciates  best  after  having  suffered 
from  disease.  Indeed,  health  is  a  most  priceless  treas- 
ure. When  deprived  of  it,  we  are  willing  to  exchange 
for  it  everything  else  we  possess;  yet  when  well,  we 
squander  it  ruthlessly,  regardless  of  consequences. 

When  a  man  has  a  bilious  attack,  and  vomits  bile, 
he  feels  sure  there  is  something  the  matter  with  his 
liver ;  whereas,  instead,  he  has  bile  enough  and  to  spare, 
and  all  he  needs  is  good  hygiene,  a  proper  dietary,  and 
plenty  of  water  inside  and  outside. 

Pain  stands  as  a  lighthouse  to  warn  navigators  on 
the  sea  of  life  whenever  they  are  approaching  the 
shoals  of  overfed  idleness,  the  rough  breakers  of  neg- 
lect and  general  disregard  of  nature's  laws,  or  the 
giddy  whirlpool  of  passions  stimulated  and  gratified. 

A  PERSON  whose  constitution  has  once  been  thor- 
oughly broken  by  any  chronic  disease,  cannot  expect 
to  become  perfectly  sound  and  well  again.  He  may 
enjoj^  excellent  health  with  proper  care,  but  will  not 
be  able  to  endure  hardships  or  irregularities  as  before. 

Quacks  thrive  upon  the  ignorance  and  gullibility  of 
the  people.  The  only  remedy  for  quackery  lies  in  the 
education  of  the  people  in  those  medical  facts  and 
theories,  which  will  lead  them  to  see  that  there  is  a 
scientific  foundation  for  rational  medical  practice. 

Avoid  sleeping  in  damp  beds  and  cold  bedrooms.  A 
person  had  a  great  deal  better  sit  up  by  the  kitchen 
fire  and  doze  in  his  chair,  than  commit  himself  to  the 
horrible  embrace  of  cold,  clammy  sheets,  and  run  the 
risk  of  sowing  the  seeds  of  an  incurable  illness. 

A  quaint  old  Dutch  physician  who  flourished  nearly 
two  centuries  ago,  had  great  faith  in  the  mechanical 
cure  of  disease.  It  was  a  favorite  saying  of  his  that 
more  patients  would  be  cured  by  climbing  a  bitterwood 
tree,  than  by  drinking  a  disgusting  decoction  of  its 
leaves. 

42  .  •    . 


718  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

Health-getting  is  a  process  of  development,  like 
the  growth  of  a  tree,  or  the  raising  of  a  crop  of  grain. 
We  must  sow  the  seeds  to-day,  in  right  habits  of  life 
and  a  correct  regimen,  and  weeks,  months,  or  years 
hence  we  shall  reap  the  harvest. 

Never  clean  the  ears  with  a  pick  or  with  the  twisted 
end  of  a  towel.  The  ear-wax  dries  and  falls  out  of 
itself.  Efforts  to  keep  the  ear  free  from  wax  increase 
the  difficulty  by  irritating  the  membrane,  and  causing 
it  to  make  more  wax. 

It  is  a  mistaken  idea  that  foods  made  rich  with  fats 
are  the  most  nourishing.  Eeally  "rich"  foods  are 
those  which  contain  a  large  proportion  of  the  essential 
food  elements  in  a  condition  in  which  they  may  be 
easily  assimilated. 

Physical  culture  is  a  sovereign  remedy  for  most 
human  maladies.  When  the  vital  status  is  raised,  the 
morbid  conditions  engendered  by  neglect  and  igno- 
rance are  left  out,  and  the  individual  exists  on  a  higher 
physical  plane. 

Never  sleep  in  a  room  which  has  been  for  weeks 
unused,  unaired,  unwarmed,  and  secluded  from  sun- 
light, until  the  bedding  has  been  thoroughly  aired  and 
dried,  and  the  air  of  the  room  thoroughly  changed  by 
ventilation. 

The  Autocrat  of  the  Breakfast  Table  says  each 
of  us  is  an  omnibus,  in  which  ride  all  our  ancestors. 
The  man  who  carries  in  his  "bus"  a  drunkard  or  a 
libertine,  is  a  proper  subject  for  most  profound  sym- 
pathy. 

Eating  between  meals  is  a  gross  breach  of  the  re- 
quirements of  good  digestion.  The  habit  many  have 
of  eating  fruit,  confectionery,  nuts,  sweetmeats,  etc., 
between  meals,  is  a  certain  cause  of  dyspepsia. 

As  a  rule,  lying  on  the  side  is  the  best  position  for 
sleeping.  Which  side  is  a  matter  of  indifference,  un- 
less a  meal  has  been  taken  within  two  or  three  hours, 
in  which  case  the  right  side  is  preferable. 


GENERAL    HEALTH    HINTS  719 

Every  individual  should  consider  the  hour  for  meals 
a  sacred  one,  not  to  be  intruded  upon  under  any  ordi- 
nary circumstances.  The  habit  of  regularity  in  eat- 
ing ought  to  be  cultivated  early  in  life. 

Liquid  of  any  kind,  taken  at  meals,  in  large  quanti- 
ties, is  prejudicial  to  digestion,  because  it  delays  the 
action  of  the  gastric  juice,  weakens  its  digestive  quali- 
ties, and  overtaxes  the  absorbents. 

The  whole  body  should  be  clad  in  soft  flannel  from 
neck  to  wrist  and  ankles  nearly  the  whole  year  round. 
A  thin  linen  or  cotton  garment  is  best  worn  next  the 
skin,  summer  and  winter. 

Diseases  are  seldom  inherited,  but  tendencies  to  dis- 
ease are  often  transmitted  from  parents  to  children. 
By  beginning  early  in  life,  these  inherited  tendencies 
may  be  extinguished. 

Cellars  should  be  kept  clear  of  decaying  vege- 
tables, wood,  wet  coal,  and  mold.  The  walls  should 
be  frequently  whitewashed,  or  washed  with  a  strong 
solution  of  copperas. 

Lying  in  the  shade  when  perspiring,  or  sitting  in  a 
draught  in  the  same  condition,  is  as  likely  to  give  a 
person  a  cold  in  August,  as  getting  the  feet  wet  in 
December  or  March. 

Exposing  the  body  to  the  air  and  light,  and  briskly 
rubbing  the  skin  with  the  hand,  is  the  best  substitute 
for  a  water  bath,  and  is  almost  as  efficient  for  cleans- 
ing the  skin. 

The  man  who  says,  T  can  eat  or  drink  anything, 
nothing  hurts  me,  is  on  the  high  road  to  physical  bank- 
ruptcy. By  and  by  he  will  complain  that  everything 
hurts  him. 

A  MAN  who  has  a  perfectly  healthy  skin  is  almost 
certain  to  be  healthy  in  other  respects.  In  no  way  can 
the  health  of  the  skin  be  preserved  but  by  frequent 
bathing. 

Common  sense  teaches  us  that  a  feeble  horse  must 


720  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

be  lightly  loaded;  so  a  weak  stomach,  suffering  with 
slow  digestion,  must  have  as  light  and  easy  work  as 
possible. 

Never  employ  water  which  is  procured  from  a  sus- 
picious source,  as  a  well  in  a  barnyard  or  near  a  vault 
or  cesspool,  or  from  a  cistern  not  recently  cleansed. 

The  old  supposition,  that  running  water  into  which 
impurities  have  been  cast,  purifies  itself  while  running 
twenty  miles,  is  an  error.    Such  water  is  never  safe. 

Hardwood  floors,  covered,  so  far  as  necessary  or 
desirable,  with  loose  rugs  which  can  be  daily  removed 
and  shaken,  are  far  more  conducive  to  health  than 
carpets. 

A  PAIN  in  the  back  seldom  indicates  disease  of  the 
kidneys,  as  most  j)eople  suppose ;  and  it  may  be  -con- 
trolled by  simple  measures  carefully  and  thoroughly 
applied. 

Combustion  is  the  best  means  of  disposing  of  gar- 
bage, and  relieves  the  scavenger  of  an  additional  bur- 
den, and  the  milkman  of  a  temptation  to  economize. 

The  feet  cannot  be  kept  warm  unless  the  blood  cir- 
culates freely  in  the  extremities;  and  that  will  not  be 
the  case  if  the  boots,  shoes,  or  stockings  are  tight. 

Air  is  food  for  the  lungs  as  bread  is  food  for  the 
stomach.  More  millions  of  people  die  from  want  of 
lung  food  than  from  a  deficiency  of  other  aliment. 

A  TIRED  stomach  is  a  weak  stomach.  When  the 
stomach  feels  "faint  and  tired"  at  night,  as  many  peo- 
ple complain,  what  it  wants  is  not  food,  but  rest. 

Do  not  eat  when  tired.  The  idea  that  simply  by  the 
taking  of  food  the  stomach  or  any  other  part  of  the 
system  will  be  strengthened,  is  a  mistake. 

The  royal  road  to  health  leads  not  by  the  way  of  big 
pills  or  little  pills,  purgatives  or  patent  medicines,  but 
by  the  homely  road  of  correct  habits. 


GENERAL.    HEALTH    HINTS  721 

All  the  medicines  in  creation  are  not  worth  a  far- 
thing to  a  man  who  is  constantly  and  habitually  vio- 
lating the  laws  of  his  own  nature. 

One  may  purify  the  blood  more  in  a  single  day  by 
breathing  pure  air  than  by  taking  sarsaparilla  or  any 
other  blood-purifier  for  a  year. 

Half  the  men  and  woinen  who  complain  of  sleep- 
lessness, have  done  nothing  to  entitle  them  to  the  use 
of  "nature's  sweet  restorer." 

CoERECT  habits  of  eating  and  drinking  are  of  the 
utmost  importance  if  we  would  keep  the  body  in  a 
state  to  serve  us  well. 

Never  bathe  when  exhausted,  or  within  three  hours 
after  eating,  unless  the  bath  be  confined  to  a  very  small 
portion  of  the  body. 

If  the  bath  be  a  warm  one,  always  conclude  it  with 
an  application  of  water  a  few  degrees  cooler  than  the 
body  temperature. 

Always  let  the  light  fall  upon  the  object  viewed, 
from  over  the  left  shoulder,  if  possible ;  it  should  never 
come  from  in  front. 

The  nourishing  quality  of  any  food  depends  upon 
its  digestibility  as  much  as  upon  its  nutritive  elements. 

For  poor  sleepers,  a  half  hour's  exercise,  taken  a 
short  time  before  retiring  will  often  act  like  a  soporific. 

Never  use  the  eyes  when  they  are  tired  or  painful, 
nor  with  an  insufficient  or  dazzling  light.  Lamps 
should  be  shaded. 

Tea  and  "temper"  are  so  often  found  associated 
as  to  afford  good  grounds  for  believing  that  they  are 
closely  related. 

Sunshine  is  one  of  nature's  most  potent  remedies. 
It  cures  more  diseases  than  the  whole  category  of  pat- 
ent medicines. 

The  simplest  food  is,  as  a  rule,  the  most  healthful. 


SIMPLE  HOME  REMEDIES  FOR 
COMMON  MALADIES 


SPRING    BILIOUSNESS 

BILIOUSNESS  is  not,  as  most  people  suppose, 
a  disease  of  the  liver,  but  pertains  almost 
altogether  to  the  stomach.  It  is  chiefly  the 
result  of  overeating,  eating  too  freely  of  sweets,  pas- 
try, fats,  and  highly  seasoned  dishes.  The  cold,  tonic 
air  of  the  winter  months  antidotes  the  bad  influence 
of  these  digressions  in  diet  to  some  degree;  but  as 
the  warm,  relaxing  weather  of  spring  comes  on,  the 
stomach  begins  to  fail  more  perceptibly  in  its  ef- 
forts to  accomplish  the  unnecessary  and  injurious 
labor  imposed  upon  it.  Indigestion  is  the  result. 
By  and  by,  the  poor  stomach  gets  so  far  behind  in 
its  work  that  it  is  altogether  overwhelmed  and  dis- 
abled, and  the  difficulty  culminates  in  a  bilious  at- 
tack, which  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  cessation 
of  work  on  the  part  of  the  stomach.  The  overworked 
organ  needs  rest.  A  bilious  attack  can  always  be  pre- 
vented by  giving  the  stomach  rest,  by  fasting  a  meal 
or  two  before  the  final  crash  comes.  No  organ  in  the 
body  will  endure  more  abuse  and  still  patiently  con- 
tinue its  work,  than  the  stomach;  but  finally  forbear- 
ance ceases  to  be  a  virtue,  and  the  faithful  servant 
rebels  against  abuse.  Correct  and  properly  regulate 
the  diet,  and  there  will  be  no  trouble  with  bilious  at- 
tacks at  any  season  of  the  year. 

722 


HOME    REMEDIES    FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  723 

DIET  FOR  DIABETICS 

It  may  be  safely  said  that  physicians  of  experience 
are  agreed  that  in  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  by 
far  the  most  important  measure  is  the  regulation  of 
the  diet.  Sugar,  starch,  and  all  foods  containing  them, 
should  be,  as  far  as  possible,  excluded  from  the  dietary. 
This  requires  that  the  patient  should  abstain  from  the 
use  of  sugar  in  any  form,  from  bread,  potatoes,  peas, 
beans,  rice,  oatmeal,  cornmeal,  and  other  grains,  chest- 
nuts, and  all  other  farinaceous  articles  of  food.  Sweet 
fruits  also  must  be  avoided  with  equal  care.  The  diet 
should  consist  chiefly  of  meat  of  different  kinds,  includ- 
ing fowl.  Greens,  green  beans,  lettuce,  yellow  beets, 
asparagus,  cucumbers,  and  radishes  may  also  be  eaten. 
Mos:.  acid  fruits  may  be  taken  in  moderate  quantities, 
such  as  lemons,  oranges,  strawberries,  peaches,  and 
currants.  In  many  cases,  skim-milk,  sour  milk,  or  but- 
termilk may  be  taken  without  increasing  the  proportion 
of  sugar,  and  hence  without  injury.  Several  eminent 
physicians  claim  to  have  cured  a  number  of  cases  of 
this  disease  by  means  of  an  exclusive  milk  diet,  the 
patient  being  confined  to  this  one  article  of  food  for 
several  weeks.  The  milk  should  be  carefully  skimmed. 
The  quantity  required  per  day  is  from  two  to  three 
quarts.  By  the  employment  of  a  diet  free  from  sugar 
or  starch,  sugar  may  in  many  cases  be  made  to  disap- 
pear from  the  urine.  When  this  is  the  case,  it  may  be 
looked  upon  as  a  very  favorable  indication,  and  often, 
so  long  as  the  patient  continaes  to  abstain  from  those 
kinds  of  food  which  occasion  the  production  of  sugar, 
the  disease  will  be  held  in  check.  Many  so-called  glu- 
ten flours  and  gluten  breads  are  manufactured  and  sold 
to  persons  suffering  from  this  disease,  which  are  shown 


724  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

by  chemical  analysis  to  contain  no  more  gluten  than 
the  best  whole-wheat  flour.  It  is,  in  fact,  impossible 
to  make  a  flour  which  will  contain  much  more  than  the 
ordinary  percentage  of  gluten  obtained  in  whole-wheat 
flour,  as  it  is  impossible  to  separate  the  starch  and  the 
gluten  by  any  process  of  milling. 

The  gluten  flour  containing  40%  of  gluten  meets  all 
ordinary  requirements.  Bread  prepared  from  gluten 
and  bran  is  especially  to  be  commended  in  these  cases 
because  of  the  need  of  combating  constipation. 


NERVOUS  DYSPEPSIA 

Americans  are  a  nation  of  dyspeptics,  and  most 
physicians  will  readily  assent  to  the  assertion  that  fully 
half  of  the  dyspeptics  belong  to  the  class  commonly 
known  as  nervous  dyspeptics.  A  chronic  nervous  dys- 
peptic is  all  but  incurable,  not  because  of  the  intrinsic 
obstinacy  of  his  malady,  but  because  the  disease  is 
more  than  half  in  his  mind.  We  do  not  mean  by  this 
remark  that  he  is  an  imaginary  sufferer,  but  that  the 
disease  affects  his  mind  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
mental  malady  becomes  the  major  part  of  the  disease. 
He  thinks  of  his  stomach  before  he  eats,  while  he  eats, 
and  after  he  eats.  He  will  not  let  the  poor  organ 
escape  from  his  mental  vision  for  an  instant.  He  talks 
of  his  afflictions  with  every  sympathetic  friend  who 
will  listen.  He  considers  his  digestive  machine  the 
wickedest  of  stomachs,  the  very  incarnation  of  cruelty, 
and  in  view  of  his  daily  martyrdom,  wears  a  long  face 
perpetually,  and  especially  at  home,  -where  he  enter- 
tains his  wife  and  children  with  his  groans  and  lamen- 


HOME    REMEDIES    FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  725 

tations,  and,  if  possible,  makes  nervous  dyspeptics  of 
them,  so  that  they  can  the  better  appreciate  his  suffer- 
ings. If  by  any  chance  any  of  his  symptoms  disappear, 
straightway  he  goes  to  work  to  resurrect  them,  and  he 
invariably  succeeds.  He  would  not  have  one  of  those 
precious  symptoms  get  away  for  anything.  He  feels 
sure  that  no  one  appreciates  properly  his  agonies  of 
mind  and  body,  and  it  is  probable  that  his  view  of  the 
matter  is  quite  correct.  Fearing  that  his  malady  is 
not  considered  so  grave  as  it  should  be,  he  sometimes 
exaggerates  a  little,  not  with  the  slightest  intention 
of  telling  a  falsehood,  but  simply  to  add  picturesque- 
ness  to  the  monotonous  desert  of  his  existence,  to 
heighten  the  interest  of  his  friends  in  his  distressing 
case.  Evidently  the  philanthropic  purpose  of  his  men- 
dacity seems  at  times  to  render  it  excusable. 

Treatment. — The  diet  must  be  plain,  unstimulating, 
nutritious.  Toasted  wheat  flakes,  toasted  rice  flakes, 
granose  biscuit,  toasted  rice  biscuit,  granuto,  granola, 
and  other  thoroughly  dextrinized  whole-grain  prepara- 
tions are  especially  to  be  commended.  Pepper  and 
other  condiments  must  be  avoided.  A  diet  of  fruits, 
grains  and  nuts,  and  fresh  vegetables  is  essential  to  the 
best  results. 

Fomentations  and  the  various  other  local  applica- 
tions for  the  relief  of  pain  must  be  employed  as  neces- 
sary. In  many  cases  fomentations  over  the  stomach 
will  be  found  very  useful,  though  in  some  cases  the 
nervousness  will  be  aggravated  by  this  application. 
Wearing  the  abdominal  bandage  is  a  very  excellent 
means  of  increasing  the  activity  of  the  stomach,  and 
also  of  promoting  sleep.  Patients  of  this  class  usually 
need  a  great  amount  of  rest,  and  judgment  must  be 
used  in  advising  exercise.    A  change  of  occupation  is 


726  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

essential  in  many  cases,  even  after  a  cure  has  been 
effected,  in  order  to  i^revent  a  relapse.  We  are  certain, 
however,  that  a  change  of  this  kind  is  often  advised 
when  a  change  of  diet  is  all  that  is  required. 


CONSTIPATION 

The  matter  of  first  importance  in  the  treatment  of 
constipation  is  the  diet.  The  abundant  use  of  fruit 
is  one  of  the  most  excellent  means  of  preventing  and 
curing  this  disease.  One  or  two  oranges  before  break- 
fast; a  coui^le  of  apples  at  breakfast;  the  free  use  of 
steamed  figs,  stewed  prunes,  and  all  other  fruits,  are 
means  to  be  recommended  in  nearly  all  cases  of  chronic 
constipation.  There  are,  of  course,  some  cases  in  which 
fruits  must  be  avoided.  In  these  cases  coarse  grains 
serve  a  useful  purpose— cracked  wheat,  oatmeal,  gra- 
ham or  bran  bread,  bran  cakes,  peas,  beans,  lentils, 
asparagus,  green  peas,  string  beans,  and  similar  vege- 
tables which  are  easy  of  digestion,  but  which  contain 
a  considerable  amount  of  woody  or  indigestible  sub- 
stance, may  also  be  advantageously  used.  Coarse 
vegetables,  however,  must  be  avoided  in  cases  where 
there  is  marked  dilatation  of  the  stomach.  Granola, 
toasted  wheat  flakes,  granose  biscuit,  granuto,  and  es- 
pecially bran  gluten  biscuit  are  of  great  value  in  the 
treatment  of  constipation.  Meltose  marmalades,  bro- 
mose,  yogurt  and  colax  are  also  highly  valuable  food 
remedies.  A  glass  of  cold  water  before  breakfast  is  a 
prescription  which  has  cured  many  cases  of  constipa- 
tion. The  free  use  of  water,  taken  one  or  two  hours 
before  each  meal,  is  a  means  of  value. 

Exercises  of  various  kinds,  particularly  such  as 


HOME    REMEDIES   FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  727 

bring  into  active  play  the  muscles  of  the  lower  part  of 
the  trunk,  are  essential  in  the  treatment  of  many  cases 
of  intestinal  inactivity.  Walking  three  to  five  miles 
a  day,  especially  a  brisk  walk  before  breakfast,  is  suf- 
ficient to  secure  regularity  of  the  bowels  in  many 
persons. 

The  exercises  of  the  Ling  system,  known  as  Swe- 
dish gymnastics,  we  have  found  of  special  value  in  the 
treatment  of  this  class  of  cases  at  the  Battle  Creek 
Sanitarium  during  many  years.  Horseback-riding 
and  bicycle-riding  are  also  of  very  great  value. 

Various  passive  exercises  are  indispensable  in 
cases  of  feeble  persons,  such  as  massage  of  the  bowels. 
This  is  best  taken  lying  upon  the  back  with  the  shoul- 
ders raised  and  the  knees  drawn  up.  Pains  should  be 
taken  to  knead  the  bowels  in  the  direction  of  the  colon, 
beginning  low  down  on  the  right  side.  Kneading  may 
be  done  with  the  hands  placed  flat  upon  the  abdomen 
or  with  closed  fists.  The  movement  should  be  begun 
at  the  lower  right  side  of  the  abdomen,  passing  up 
the  right  side,  then  across  just  beneath  the  ribs,  then 
down  to  the  left  groin,  one  hand  following  the  other  in 
such  a  way  as  to  force  the  contents  of  the  colon  along. 

A  cannon  ball  weighing  five  or  six  pounds,  cov- 
ered with  leather,  rolled  along  the  course  of  the  colon 
from  right  to  left,  is  of  service  in  many  cases. 
Weighted  compresses,  consisting  of  a  quilted  compress 
containing  shot  of  sufficient  size  to  cover  the  whole 
abdomen,  are  very  useful.  The  patient  should  lie  with 
the  compress  upon  the  abdomen  for  half  an  hour; 
kneading  of  the  compress  may  be  practiced  at  the  same 
time,  or  the  cannon  ball  may  be  used  outside  the  com- 
press. Shot  bags  may  be  used  in  much  the  same  way 
as  the  cannon  ball,  and  with  equally  good  effect.    The 


728  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

bag  should  contain  five  to  ten  pounds  of  rather  fine 
shot.  Such  exercises  as  raising  the  limbs  when  lying 
upon  the  back,  first  one  and  then  the  other,  then  both 
together,  are  of  special  value.  Exercises  of  raising 
the  hips  are  also  useful.  Raising  the  head  and  legs 
may  be  practiced  at  the  same  time,  making  a  very 
vigorous  exercise,  which  is  of  great  value.  Breathing 
exercises,  which  bring  into  full  play  the  diaphragm 
and  abdominal  muscles,  are  a  most  excellent  means  of 
restoring  intestinal  activity. 

Measures  of  treatment  of  a  hygienic  character  are 
of  far  greater  utility  in  these  cases  than  drugs  of  any 
sort,  for  the  reason  that  they  do  not,  like  drugs,  lose 
their  efficiency  in  a  short  time,  requiring  larger  and 
larger  doses  and  finally  failing  to  act. 

Introduction  into  the  rectum  of  a  small  quantity 
of  cold  water,  half  a  pint  or  pint  before  breakfast, 
to  be  retained  until  after  breakfast,  is  a  measure  of 
value.  A  small,  cold  enema  taken  at  the  regular  time 
for  the  bowels  to  move,  is  better  than  a  large  warm 
enema,  as  it  is  a  more  powerful  stimulant  to  intestinal 
activity.  A  small  amount  of  cold  water  introduced 
into  the  rectum  at  night  upon  retiring,  is  a  useful  meas- 
ure in  cases  where  the  intestinal  contents  are  dry  and 
hard;  half  a  pint  or  a  pint  is  a  sufficient  amount.  In 
some  cases  in  which  the  stools  are  large  and  the  rectum 
irritable,  an  ounce  or  two  of  olive  or  almond  oil  intro- 
duced at  night  or  before  breakfast  is  a  useful  measure. 

If  the  full  enema  (see  page  710)  is  required,  in 
obstinate  cases,  care  should  be  taken  not  to  render  its 
use  habitual. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  regularity  in  attend- 
ing to  the  demands  of  nature  is  a  matter  of  the  utmost 
consequence  in  these  cases,  both  as  a  preventive  and 


HOME   REMEDIES   FOR   COMMON    DISEASES  729 

a  curative  measure.  In  some  cases  the  inability  to 
evacuate  the  bowels  is  due  to  weakness  of  the  abdom- 
inal muscles,  it  being  sometimes  necessary  to  aid  the 
bowels  by  pressure  of  the  hands.  We  have  had  several 
cases  in  which  there  was  inability  to  evacuate  the 
bowels  when  sitting  in  the  usual  position,  but  no  diffi- 
culty when  a  crouching  position  was  assumed. 

Some  cases  of  constipation  tax  the  skill  and  inge- 
nuity of  the  physician  to  the  utmost,  and  cannot  be 
relieved  by  such  simple  measures  as  can  be  undertaken 
at  home. 


HOW  TO  BREAK  UP  A  COLD 

During  the  winter  months,  a  cold  is  one  of  the  most 
common  of  accidents.  An  ordinary  cold  is  usually 
cured  in  from  two  to  six  weeks,  but  not  infrequently 
a  hard  cold  leaves  behind  it  relics,  recovery  from  which 
may  require  months  or  even  years.  Sometimes  a  fatal 
disease  finds  its  beginning  in  a  neglected  cold.  One  of 
the  best  means  of  breaking  up  a  cold,  especially  if 
taken  by  getting  the  feet  wet,  is  to  take  a  hot  mustard 
footbath,  which  may  be  made  by  adding  a  tablespoon- 
ful  of  ground  mustard  to  two  gallons  of  water  as  hot 
as  can  be  borne,  in  an  ordinary  footbath  or  a  wooden 
pail.  The  bath  should  be  continued  fifteen  to  thirty 
minutes,  or  until  the  skin  is  well  reddened  and  tingling. 

While  taking  the  footbath,  swallow  one  or  two  pints 
of  hot  water  or  hot  tea  of  some  sort,— catnip,  winter- 
green,  cinnamon,  or  almost  any  herb  tea  will  answer 
the  purpose.  It  is,  of  course,  the  hot  water  that  pro- 
duces the  effect,  so  that  it  is  a  matter  of  small  conse- 
quence what  is  used  as  flavoring. 

After  the  footbath,  dry  the  feet  quickly,  go  to  bed. 


730  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

and  have  applied  over  the  part  in  which  the  cold  seems 
to  have  settled,  a  towel  wrung  out  of  cold  water,  suffi- 
ciently dry  so  that  it  will  not  drip,  and  cover  it  with 
several  thicknesses  of  flannel  or  sheet  cotton,  so  as  to 
keep  it  warm  during  the  night. 

If  the  seat  of  the  cold  seems  to  be  in  the  lungs,  the 
compress  should  be  applied  over  the  chest,  and  also 
the  back  of  the  shoulders.  The  compress  should  be 
large  enough  to  cover  the  whole  surface  of  the  chest, 
that  is,  the  whole  of  the  upper  part  of  the  trunk,  or 
that  portion  in  which  the  ribs  lie. 

If  the  attack  is  a  severe  one,  so  that  a  serious  illness 
is  threatened,  the  patient  should  stay  in  bed  for  one 
or  two  days,  or  in  bad  cases  for  a  longer  time,  as  may 
be  indicated.  The  footbath  and  the  hot  drink  should 
be  repeated  each  day  until  the  patient  is  relieved,  and 
the  cold  compress  renewed  night  and  morning. 

In  case  the  compress  becomes  cold  during  the  night, 
it  should  be  covered  with  oil  muslin  or  rubber  cloth, 
so  as  to  prevent  evaporation.  If  the  bowels  are 
inactive,  empty  them  by  means  of  a  large  coloclyster 
of  hot  water,  as  hot  as  can  be  borne.  The  diet  should 
be  sparing;  it  should  consist  of  fruits  and  grains.  Hot 
water  should  be  taken  plentifully.  At  least  two  or 
three  quarts  should  be  taken  in  the  course  of  twenty- 
four  hours. 

DILATATION    OF    THE    STOMACH     AND 
DYSPEPSIA 

The  investigations  of  Bouchard,  Glenard,  Trastour, 
and  other  eminent  French  physicians,  as  well  as  ex- 
tended observations  made  by  the  author,  have  demon- 
strated very  clearly  that  dilatation  of  the  stomach  is 


HOME   KEMEDIEfc,   FOR   COMMON   DISEASES  731 

one  of  the  principal  causes  of  dyspepsia,  and  this  con- 
dition is  to  be  found  in  a  very  large  proportion  of  all 
cases  of  chronic  indigestion. 

The  causes  of  dilatation  of  the  stomach  are  over- 
eating, distention  of  the  stomach  by  gas,  and  the  for- 
mation of  acids  in  the  stomach,  which  set  up  a  chronic 
catarrh  and  cause  weakness  of  the  muscles  of  the 
stomach.  Tight-lacing  and  wearing  belts  have  the 
same  effect.  Blacksmiths  usually  tie  their  apron 
strings  tightly  around  their  bodies,  throw  off  their 
vests  and  suspenders,  so  as  to  give  freedom  to  their 
arms,  and  thus  their  clothing  is  suspended  by  their 
apron  strings.  One  of  these  men,  whom  we  examined, 
had  a  badly  dilated  stomach.  A  military  officer,  who 
carried  a  heavy  sword  in  his  belt,  had  a  prolapsed 
stomach  and  kidney.  We  have  found  the  same  thing 
in  hunters  who  sustained  their  clothing  by  a  belt ;  also 
in  farmers  who  wore  belts.  Once  in  a  while  we  have 
found  a  similar  condition  in  women  who  have  worn 
tight  bands  around  the  waist.  Statistics  recently  gath- 
ered show  that  seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  invalid 
women  who  came  under  our  care  last  year  had  pro- 
lapsed stomachs,  and  thirty-three  per  cent  of  them 
had  movable  kidneys,  in  consequence  of  restriction  of 
the  waist.  This  is  one  of  the  most  mischievous  in- 
fractions of  the  laws  of  health  with  which  we  are 
acquainted. 

In  the  treatment  of  persons  suffering  from  dila- 
tation of  the  stomach,  one  of  the  most  useful  of  all 
measures  is  washing  the  stomach  by  means  of  a  very 
soft  and  flexible  tube,  one  end  of  which  is  swallowed 
by  the  patient.  The  stomach  tube  is  also  useful  in 
investigating  disorders  of  the  stomach.  Within  the 
last  few  years  the  author  has,  by  the  aid  of  this  instru- 


732  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

ment,  made  a  very  careful  study  of  the  digestive  proc- 
ess in  more  than  2,500  different  persons  suffering 
from  various  forms  of  indigestion.  The  patient  is 
first  given  a  test  breakfast  consisting  of  a  measured 
quantity  of  bread  and  water.  At  the  end  of  an  hour 
the  contents  of  the  stomach  are  withdrawn  by  means 
of  the  tube,  and  a  minute  chemical  analysis  is  made. 
By  this  means  it  is  possible  to  determine  exactly  the 
nature  of  the  disorder  of  digestion  from  which  the 
patient  is  suffering  and  the  extent  of  the  disease,  and 
from  this  information  a  very  exact  prescription  may 
be  formulated.  In  very  many  instances  the  condition 
of  the  stomach  is  found  to  be  the  result  of  germs  in 
the  stomach.  By  washing  the  stomach  thoroughly,  so 
that  these  enemies  are  removed,  the  condition  of  the 
patient  is  at  once  improved.  So  accurately  may  the 
condition  and  treatment  of  such  cases  be  determined 
by  this  method,  that  it  is  usually  possible  to  say  to  a 
person  who  has  undergone  an  examination  of  this  kind, 
''Take  the  treatment  and  diet  prescribed,  and  in  less 
than  a  week  you  will  be  a  great  deal  better,  and  in  due 
time,  by  perseverance  in  the  use  of  the  measures 
ordered,  you  will  be  restored  to  good  health.  Of  course 
it  is  not  always  possible  to  restore  tbe  patient  to  per- 
fect health,  but  a  vast  improvement  may  be  expected 
in  all  cases  where  the  patient  is  not  suffering  from 
some  malignant  or  other  structural  disease. 

A  person  whose  stomach  is  dilated  should  avoid 
all  coarse  vegetables,  and  such  fruits  as  have  a  hard, 
firm  flesh,  as  raw  apples,  pears,  etc.  But  he  can  eat 
all  of  the  grain  preparations,  and  most  cooked  fruits. 
Small  fruits  having  a  soft  pulp  are  good,  such  as  straw- 
berries, blueberries,  peaches,  oranges,  and  grapes. 
Baked  apples  are  also  excellent  food. 


HOME  EEMEDIES  FOR  COMMON  DISEASES  733 

Cane  sugar  used  in  the  ordinary  form  of  preserves, 
sweet  desserts,  confectionery,  etc.,  is  often  productive 
of  serious  mischief.  It  is  one  of  the  most  common 
causes  of  sour  stomach,  not,  however,  through  fermen- 
tation as  was  formerly  supposed,  but  through  irrita- 
tion of  the  gastric  mucous  membrane.  The  use  of  cane 
sugar  should  be,  as  far  as  possible,  dispensed  with. 
Sweet  fruits,  such  as  stewed  raisins,  prunes,  figs,  dates, 
etc.,  may  be  substituted. 

Butter  should  be  eaten  very  sparingly,  and  other 
animal  fats  should  be  avoided  altogether,  for  the  rea- 
son that  fats  hinder  the  secretion  of  gastric  juice  and 
delay  the  passage  of  food  from  the  stomach,  as  shown 
by  the  experiments  of  Pawlow. 

Meat  should  not  be  eaten  by  a  person  with  a  dilated 
stomach.  The  muscles  of  the  stomach  being  in  a  re- 
laxed condition,  the  stomach  cannot  empty  itself  of 
food,  and  hence  no  food  should  be  taken  but  that  which 
can  be  readily  dissolved  and  rendered  a  pulp. 

Peas  and  beans  are  hard  to  digest,  unless  the  skins 
have  been  removed.  This  may  be  done  by  a  colander, 
or  they  may  be  purchased  ready  prepared. 

A  person  with  a  dilated  stomach  has  necessarily  a 
slow  digestion,  and  for  this  reason  should  take  the  food 
that  is  most  quickly  digested. 

Another  important  point  is  to  give  the  stomach  as 
long  an  interval  between  meals  as  is  required  by  the 
food  for  digestion.  There  should  also  be  a  little  time 
between  meals,  after  the  food  is  digested,  for  the  stom- 
ach to  rest.  An  interval  of  five  to  seven  hours  should 
be  allowed  between  meals,  that  the  stomach  may  have 
time  to  digest  all  the  food  properly,  and  then  to  rest 
a  little  before  any  more  is  introduced.    This  may  give 

43 


734 


PLAIN  :FACTS  FOB  OLD  AND  YOUNG 


rise  to  that  '^ all-gone"  feeling  so  many  complain  of, 
and  there  may  be  an  unpleasant  feeling  in  the  stomach 
as  the  walls  fall  together;  but  if  the  practice  is  per- 
severed in,  the  feeling  will  soon  pass  away. 

Numerous  exj^eriments  have  been  made  for  the  pur- 
pose of  determining  the  length  of  time  required  for  the 
digestion  of  various  articles  of  food.  Among  the  most 
interesting  and  important  of  these  was  a  series  of  ex- 
periments made  by  Beaumont,  a  physician  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  American  Pur  Company.  The  subject  of 
these  experiments  was  Alexis  St.  Martin,  a  hunter  in 
the  employ  of  the  Fur  Company,  who  had  been  injured 
by  a  gunshot  in  such  a  way  that  when  the  wound  healed 
there  remained  a  permanent  opening  in  his  stomach, 
through  which  the  progress  of  the  digestive  process 
could  be  easily  watched.  Dr.  Beaumont  made  digestive 
experiments  with  St.  Martin  for  several  years.  Some 
of  the  results  obtained  by  him  are  recorded  in  the  fol- 
lowing table: 


Rice  boiled 1  00 

Sagfo,  boiled 1  45 

Tapioca,  boiled..... 2  00 

Barley,  boiled 2  00 

Milk,  boiled 2  00 

Milk,  raw 2  15 

Venison  steak,  broiled 1  35 

Turkey,  domestic,  roasted 2  30 

Turkey,  domestic,  boiled 2  25 

Goose,  roasted 2  30 

Lamb,  fresh,  broiled 2  30 

Oysters,  fresh,  roasted 3  15 

Oysters,  fresh,  stewed 3  30 

Beef,  fresh,  lean,  rare,  roasted 3  00 

Beef,  fresh,  dry,  roasted 3  30 

Beef,  steak,  broiled 3  00 

Beef,  with  salt  only,  boiled 2  45 

Eg-grs,  fresh,  hard  boiled 3  30 

Eggs,  fresh,  soft  boiled 3  00 

Eggs,  fresh,  fried 3  30 

Eggs,  fresh,  raw 2  00 

Eggs,  fresh,  whipped 1  30 


H.  MIN. 

Custard,  baked 2  45 

Codfish,  cured,  dry,  boiled 2  00 

Trout,  salmon  fresh,  boiled 1  30 

Bass,  striped,  fresh,  broiled 3  00 

Salmon,  salted,  boiled 4  00 

Oysters,  fresh,  raw 2  55 

Soup,  beans,  boiled 3  00 

Soup,  barley,  boiled 1  30 

Soup,  mutton,  boiled 3  30 

Green  corn  and  beans,  boiled 3  45 

Chicken  soup,  boiled 3  00 

Oyster  soup,  boiled 3  30 

Beef,  with  mustard,  etc.,  boiled 3  00 

Beef,  fresh,  lean,  fried 4  00 

Beef,  old,  hard,  salted,  boiled 4  15 

Pork,  steak,  broiled 3  15 

Pork,  fat  and  lean,  roasted 5  15 

Pork,  recently  salted,  fried 4  15 

Mutton,  fresh,  roasted 3  15 

Mutton,  fresh,  broiled 3  00 

Mutton,  fresh,  boiled 3  00 

Veal,  fresh,  broiled 4  00 


HOME    REMEDIES    FOR    COMMON    DISEASES 


735 


H.   MIN. 

Veal,  fresh,  fried 4  ,  30 

Fowls,  domestic,  boiled 4  00 

Fowls,  domestic,  roasted 4  00 

Ducks,  domestic,  roasted 4  00 

Duck,  wild,  roasted 4  30 

Butter,  melted 3  30 

Cheese,  old,  strong,  raw 3  30 

Soup,  marrow  bones,  boiled 4  15 

Hash,  meat    and   vegretables, 

warmed 2  30 

Beans,  pod,  boiled 2  30 

Bread,  wheaten.  fresh,  baked 3  30 

Bread,  corn,  baked 3  15 


H.   MIN. 

Cake,  corn,  baked 3  00 

Dumpling,  apple,  boiled 3  00 

Apples,  sour  and  hard,  raw 2  50 

Apples,  sour  and  mellow,  raw 2  00 

Apples,  sweet  and  mellow,  raw 1  30 

Parsnips,  boiled 2  30 

Carrot,  orange,  boiled 3  15 

Beet,  boiled 3  45  ' 

Turnips,  flat,  boiled 3  30 

Potatoes.  Irish,  boiled 3  30 

Potatoes,  Irish,  baked 2  30 

Cabbage,  head,  raw 2  30 

Cabbage,  head,  boiled 4  30 


RHEUMATISM 

This  disease  is  generally  regarded  as  a  disease  of 
the  joints.  This,  however,  is  an  error.  It  is  a  disease 
of  the  whole  body.  The  special  manifestation  of  the 
disease,  when  in  an  acute  form,  is  most  common  in 
the  joints,  but  the  muscles  are  not  infrequently  af- 
fected, and  the  nerves  also  sometimes  suffer  from  the 
same  morbid  condition  which  gives  rise  to  the  painful 
symptoms  in  the  joints  and  muscles.  Inflammations 
of  a  kindred  character  also  not  infrequently  attack  the 
delicate  membrane  which  covers  the  lungs  and  lines 
the  chest,  and  also  that  which  covers  the  brain. 

The  condition  which  gives  rise  to  the  symptoms  to 
which  the  term  rheumatism  is  commonly  applied,  is 
a  poisoned  state  of  the  blood  and  tissues.  The  direct 
cause  of  this  poisoning  is  a  disordered  state  of  the 
liver,  or  of  the  stomach  and  liver,  for  both  organs  are 
most  commonly  affected.  Professor  Bouchard,  the 
eminent  French  physician  and  physiologist,  discovered, 
many  years  ago,  that  the  stomach  is  found  to  be  dilated 
in  the  majority  of  cases  of  rheumatism.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  dilatation,  the  food  remains  in  the  stom- 
ach too  long,  and  undergoes  decompositions  of  various 


736  PLAIN    PACTS   POR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

sorts,  resulting  in  the  production  of  poisons,  which, 
when  absorbed  into  the  system,  are  carried  to  the  liver. 
It  is  part  of  the  duty  of  the  liver  to  destroy  these  as 
well  as  other  poisons  which  are  naturally  produced 
within  the  body.  The  enormous  quantities  of  poison- 
ous substances  which  are  carried  to  the  liver,  after  a 
time  overwork  it  to  such  a  degree  that  it  becomes  inca- 
pable of  performing  its  work  completely,  and  these 
poisons  accumulate  within  the  body.  Then  the  deli- 
cate membranes  which  line  the  joints,  cover  the  mus- 
cles, form  the  nerve-sheaths,  line  the  cavities  of  the 
body,  and  cover  the  vital  organs  which  they  contain, 
soon  begin  to  suffer  from  the  irritating  effects  of  these 
poisonous  substances,  and  rheumatic  symptoms  of  vari- 
ous sorts  make  their  appearance. 

Prevention.— It  is  evident  that  the  prevention  of 
rheumatism  consists,  first,  in  the  avoidance  of  what- 
ever will  tend  to  introduce  into  the  system,  or  to  cause 
the  production  within  the  body,  of  an  abnormal  amount 
of  poisonous  substances  which  must  be  destroyed  or 
removed  by  the  liver  and  other  excretory  organs.  This 
requires  (1)  an  abundance  of  exercise;  (2)  frequent 
bathing;  (3)  a  pure  diet;  and  (4)  the  free  use  of  water. 

Exercise  is  nature's  means  of  introducing  into  the 
body  a  large  quantity  of  oxygen,  by  which  these  poi- 
sons are  destroyed,  and  of  stimulating  the  circulation, 
by  which  they  are  carried  out  of  the  body.  The  liver 
cannot  destroy  poisonous  substances  without  the  aid 
of  oxygen.  Frequent  bathing  is  a  means  of  maintain- 
ing activity  of  the  skin  and  removing  those  poisonous 
substances  which  are  thrown  out  upon  the  surface  of 
the  body,  and  thus  encourages  tissue  cleanliness.  A 
pure  diet  is  one  which  excludes  such  substances  as 
cheese,  game,  meat  which  has  acquired  a  high  flavor 


HOME    REMEDIES    FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  737 

by  being  kept  long  after  the  animal  was  killed,  and 
such  irritating  substances  as  mustard,  pepper,  pepper- 
sauce,  and  other  condiments;  also  such  indigestible 
substances  as  pickles,  preserves,  pastry,  fried  foods, 
rich  gravies,  and  similar  unwholesome  viands.  A  free 
use  of  even  fresh  meat  is  objectionable,  as  it  readily 
undergoes  decomposition  in  the  stomach,  thus  giving 
rise  to  those  poisons  which  are  most  likely  to  produce 
rheumatism. 

Overeating  must  also  be  mentioned  as  a  cause  of 
rheumatism,  by  introducing  an  excess  of  material  into 
the  body,  which,  not  being  employed  usefully,  becomes 
waste  matter  and  a  clog  and  hindrance  to  the  vital 
functions. 

Treatment.— A.  severe  case  of  rheumatism,  of 
course,  requires  the  attention  of  a  skilled  physician. 
A  few  hygienic  suggestions  may,  however,  prove  of 
value.  In  fact,  the  writer  has  cured  many  cases  of 
rheumatism  by  the  simple  means  which  will  be  outlined, 
and  without  the  administration  of  medicine. 

1.  Abstinence  from  food  for  a  few  days,— three  or 
four  days  at  least.  If  the  patient  finds  it  inconvenient 
to  abstain  entirely  from  the  use  of  food,  which  is  doubt- 
less preferable,  fruits  or  fruit  juices  may  be  freely 
used  without  special  detriment. 

2.  Drinking  frequently  of  distilled  or  pure  water. 
A  little  lemon  or  other  fruit  juice  may  be  added  to  the 
water  if  desirable.  Popular  prejudice  against  the  use 
of  lemons  or  other  acid  fruits  in  rheumatism  is  un- 
founded. The  amount  of  water  taken  should  be  con- 
siderable. Our  usual  prescription  is  a  glassful  of 
water  every  hour,  when  the  patient  is  awake. 

3.  Absolute  rest  in  bed. 

4.  For  the  first  three  days,  continuous  sweating, 


738  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR   OLD    AND   YOUNG 

which  may  be  induced  by  wrapping  the  patient  in 
blankets  wrung  out  of  hot  water,  to  be  changed  three 
or  four  times  daily;  by  fomentations  to  the  spine,  or 
other  similar  means.  Rubber  bags  filled  with  hot 
water,  bricks  heated  and  wrapped  in  moist  flannels, 
heated  bags  of  sand  or  salt,  or  any  other  means  of  com- 
municating heat  to  the  body  may  be  employed.  The 
bowels  should  be  thoroughly  emptied  daily  by  a  large 
enema  of  hot  water.  The  enema  may  be  given  twice 
a  day  with  benefit,  at  the  beginning  of  the  disease.  In 
many  cases,  it  will  be  found  that  there  is  a  large  accu- 
mulation of  fecal  matter  in  the  bowels.  The  removal 
of  this  source  of  poisoning  of  the  body  will,  in  itself, 
prove  a  valuable  means  of  recovery  in  many  cases. 


SUNSTROKE 


Symptoms.— Sudden  pain  in  the  head;  fulness  and 
pressure  at  the  pit  of  the  stomach;  sometimes  nausea 
and  vomiting;  weakness,  especially  in  the  legs;  dizzi- 
ness; sight  dim  and  indistinct;  objects  appear  of  one 
color,  usually  blue  or  purple;  sometimes  convulsions 
or  delirium ;  insensibility ;  stupor ;  snoring  or  moaning 
respiration;  pulse  frequent  and  weak;  skin  dry  and 
hot;  face  flushed  or  pale. 

Causes.— The  affection  known  as  sunstroke  is  pro- 
duced not  only  by  exposure  to  the  sun's  rays,  but  by 
exposure  to  great  heat  from  any  source.  Persons 
employed  in  glass-works,  laundries,  and  in  similar 
occupations,  are  subject  to  sunstroke  or  heatstroke, 
as  well  as  those  who  are  exposed  to  the  sun's  rays. 
It  generally  occurs,  also,  in  persons  who  are  debilitated 
by  great  fatigue,  or  who  have  ceased  to  perspire.    The 


HOME    REMEDIES    FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  739 

affection  is  much  more  frequent  in  persons  who  are 
addicted  to  alcoholic  stimulants  than  in  others. 

Treatment.— When  a  person  falls  with  sunstroke, 
he  should  at  once  be  carried  to  a  cool,  shady  place. 
His  clothing  should  be  removed,  and  cold  applications 
should  be  made  to  his  head  and  over  the  whole  body. 
Pieces  of  ice  may  be  packed  around  the  head,  or  cold 
water  may  be  poured  upon  the  body  from  a  waterpot. 
The  shower  pack  is  by  far  the  best  remedy  known  for 
this  affection.  The  great  source  of  danger  is  the  high 
temperature,  which  sometimes  rises  to  110°  F.  In 
addition  to  the  measures  suggested,  the  ice  pack  to 
the  spine  and  the  cold  enema  may  also  be  employed. 
In  case  the  face  is  pale,  hot  applications  instead  of 
cold  should  be  made  to  the  head  and  over  the  heart, 
and  the  body  should  be  rubbed  vigorously. 


COLIC-ENTERALGIA 

8 i/mptoms.— Griping  pain  in  the  bowels,  especially 
about  the  navel;  pain,  spasmodic  in  character,  gen- 
erally relieved  by  pressure;  no  tenderness  of  the  bow- 
els ;  frequent  vomiting ;  bowels  usually  constipated,  and 
frequently  flatulent;  no  fever;  pulse  generally  slower 
than  usual;  skin  cold. 

The  term  colic  is  properly  applied  to  a  spasmodic 
muscular  contraction  of  the  walls  of  the  intestines,  but 
on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  the  two 
conditions,  it  is  often  also  applied  to  a  neuralgic  affec- 
tion of  the  intestines  known  as  enteralgia.  The  dis- 
ease is  usually  caused  by  indiscretions  in  eating,  as 
of  unripe  fruit,  stale  or  decaying  vegetables  or  other 
food,  certain  kinds  of  fish,  or  by  taking  cold,  etc.    The 


740  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD    AND    YOUNG 

disease  is  often  a  very  painful  one,  leaving  the  pa- 
tient much  prostrated,  but  is  never  fatal.  The  appli- 
cation of  hot  fomentations  or  dry  heat  to  the  abdo- 
men, and  the  use  of  large  hot  enemata,  rarely  fail  to 
give  speedy  relief.  In  cases  of  chronic  enter algia,  such 
as  are  sometimes  met  with,  nothing  is  so  effective  as 
the  use  of  electricity  in  the  form  of  a  mild  faradic  cur- 
rent or  galvanism. 


CHOLERA  MORBUS 

Symptoms.— Yoimimg,  soon  followed  by  purging; 
watery,  acrid,  or  acid  discharges  from  the  bowels; 
colicky  pains,  cramp  in  the  feet  and  limbs;  hiccough; 
rapid  and  feeble  pulse;  cold  skin,  often  bathed  with 
clammy  sweat;  voice  feeble  and  hollow. 

This  is  a  germ  disease  which  bears  a  rather  close 
resemblance  to  Asiatic  cholera,  although  by  no  means 
so  grave  a  malady.  It  is  sometimes  attributed  to  ex- 
cessive eating,  but  although  the  disease  most  frequently 
occurs  in  hot  weather,  it  is  generally  excited  by  errors 
in  diet,  as  the  use  of  cheese,  unripe  fruit,  etc.  Some- 
times the  disease  assumes  an  epidemic  form,  a  large 
number  of  persons  being  attacked  at  about  the  same 
time.  Attacks  most  frequently  come  on  during  the 
night,  the  first  symptom  being  a  feeling  of  pressure 
at  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  which  is  shortly  followed  by 
nausea  and  vomiting.  The  matter  vomited  first  usu- 
ally consists  of  undigested  food.  After  a  time,  a  pale 
yellow  or  greenish  fluid,  intensely  acrid,  bitter,  or  acid, 
is  vomited.  Griping  pains  in  the  bowels  are  also  pres- 
ent. The  discharges  from  the  bowels  are  at  first  pulpy 
in  character,  but  soon  become  liquid,  enormous  quan- 


HOME    REMEDIES    FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  741 

titles  of  fluids  passing  from  the  body.  The  result  of 
this  great  discharge  of  fluids  is  a  rapid  shrinking  of 
the  tissues,  giving  to  the  features  and  other  parts  of 
the  body  a  pinched  appearance.  The  nose  is  pointed, 
the  eyes  sunken,  and  the  skin  appears  dry  and  shriv- 
eled. It  is  always  cold,  and  sometimes  covered  with 
a  clammy  perspiration.  The  discharges  from  the  bow- 
els sometimes  have  the  appearance  of  thin  rice-water 
or  thin  gruel,  which  gives  the  disease  a  close  resem- 
blance to  cholera.  The  depression  of  the  patient  is 
very  great,  the  voice  becoming  hollow,  and  sometimes 
being  lost  altogether.  Notwithstanding  the  serious  as- 
pect of  the  disease,  it  usually  subsides  in  a  few  hours, 
the  patient  making  a  rapid  recovery.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, the  discharges  become  involuntary,  the  pulse  dis- 
appears,  and  the  patient  finally  dies   of  exhaustion. 

Treatment.— Ai  the  beginning  of  the  affection,  give 
freely  of  warm  liquids  to  facilitate  evacuation  of  the 
stomach.  A  large  hot  enema  should  be  administered 
after  each  evacuation  of  the  bowels.  The  addition  of 
tannin,  one  dram  to  a  quart  of  water,  is  serviceable. 

Wlien  the  vomited  matters  no  longer  show  traces 
of  food,  efforts  should  be  made  to  stop  the  vomiting. 
Give  the  patient  bits  of  ice  the  size  of  a  bean  to  swal- 
low every  few  minutes.  At  the  same  time  apply  hot 
fomentations  over  the  stomach  and  bowels.  If  the 
patient  suffers  much  from  cramp,  give  a  warm  bath. 
Do  not  be  alarmed  if  the  vomiting  and  purging  are 
not  checked  at  once.  If  the  case  is  an  unusually  severe 
one,  or  the  patient  is  far  advanced  in  years,  or  a  young 
child,  a  physician  should  be  called  at  once.  It  is  espe- 
cially important  in  this  disease,  to  withhold  milk  and 
all  its  preparations.  The  first  food  taken  should  be 
farinaceous.      Preparations    of    gluten    and    granola 


742  PLAIN  FACTS  FOR  OLD  AND  YOUNG 

may  also  be  recommended.  Perhaps  the  most  whole- 
some of  all  foods  for  such  a  case  is  rice,  either  boiled 
rice,  toasted  rice  flakes,  or  toasted  rice  biscuit.  Eice 
is  recommended  in  this  disease  because  of  the  small 
amount  of  alkaline  salts  which  it  contains,  which  ren- 
ders it  the  least  irritating  and  taxing  to  the  kidneys  of 
any  known  food.  The  best  authorities  now  agree  that 
no  food  at  all  should  be  given  for  one  to  three  days. 
Water  should  be  administered  freely — three  teaspoons- 
ful  every  hour — but  no  food  of  any  kind  should  be 
given  until  the  stools  improve  in  character.  When  the 
fecor  of  the  stools  disappears,  then  rice  water  or  bar- 
ley water  may  be  given  in  small  quantity.  In  some 
cases,  the  white  of  an  egg  dissolved  in  water  given  in 
spoonful  doses  seems  to  be  very  well  tolerated.  Rice 
gruel  is  one  of  the  very  best  foods  which  can  be  given 
in  cases  of  this  sort.  It  is  highly  important  to  with- 
hold milk  for  some  days.  Buttermilk  is  tolerated  much 
more  readily  than  ordinary  milk.  A  number  of  French 
physicians  regard  buttermilk  as  almost  a  panacea  in 
cases  of  this  sort.  Yogurt  buttermilk  is  to  be  pre- 
ferred to  ordinary  buttermilk.  Yogurt  buttermilk  may 
be  prepared  from  Yogurt  tablets  by  adding  the  tablets 
to  boiled  milk  and  keeping  it  at  a  temperature  of  105 
or  106  degrees  for  ten  or  twelve  hours.  When  the 
bowel  trouble  has  ceased,  a  larger  variety  of  food  may 
be  taken,  such  as  toasted  rice  flakes,  toasted  rice  bis- 
cuit, gruel  prepared  from  toasted  rice  meal,  boiled  rice, 
zwieback  or  breakfast  toast,  granola,  granuto,  malt 
honey  or  meltose,  granose  biscuit,  granose  flakes  and 
ricoco ;  and  later,  when  the  bowel  action  is  well  estab- 
lished, malted  nuts  may  be  used  to  great  advantage. 
The  use  of  malted  nuts  may  be  continued  for  months. 


HOME  REMEDIES  FOR  COMMON  DISEASES  743 


It  is  an  excellent  substitute  in  cases  in  which  milk  does 
not  agree  well. 


CHOLERA  INFANTUM 

Symptoms. — Vomiting  and  purging,  sometimes  al- 
most incessant ;  spasmodic  pain  in  stomach  and  bowels ; 
great  prostration;  bowels  bloated  or  sunken;  other 
symptoms  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  preceding 
disease. 

Eecent  investigations  have  shown  that  cholera  in- 
fantum is  probably  due  to  poison  produced  by  a  germ 
or  germs  known  as  tyrotoxicon  or  other  similar  poi- 
sons. This  poison  was  first  found  in  cheese  by  Pro- 
fessor Vaughan,  of  the  University  of  Michigan. 

Treatm^ent. — The  treatment  should  be  essentially 
the  same  as  that  described  for  cholera  morbus.  The 
application  of  cold  to  the  stomach  is  also  very  bene- 
ficial. When  the  child  cannot  swallow  ice,  ice  water 
may  be  given  in  very  small  quantities  every  few  min- 
utes. A  matter  of  very  great  importance  in  the  treat- 
ment of  cholera  infantum  is  giving  the  stomach  entire 
rest.  No  attempt  should  be  made  to  feed  the  child  for 
at  least  twenty-four  hours.  There  will  be  no  suffering 
for  want  of  food  if  it  is  withheld  as  long  as  the  stomach 
is  in  such  a  condition. 

This  poison  is  readily  formed  from  milk,  but  not 
so  readily  developed  from  other  substances ;  hence  the 
necessity  of  withholding  milk  in  these  cases  until  nature 
has  had  time  to  rid  the  alimentary  canal  of  the  poison- 
producing  germs. 


744  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

CROUP 

Symptoms.— Ki  first,  those  of  a  slight  cold  or 
catarrh,— slight  fever,  hoarseness,  cough,  running  at 
the  nose ;  after  a  few  hours,  fits  of  coughing,  increased 
hoarseness,  and  harassed  respiration,  spasm  of  the 
muscles  of  the  throat;  characteristic  symptoms  now 
appear,— brassy,  ringing,  or  barking  cough,  accompa- 
nied with  a  crowing  sound,  increased  fever,  embarrass- 
ment of  the  respiration,  irregularity  of  the  pulse,  fea- 
tures expressive  of  distress,  patient  worse  at  night  and 
better  toward  morning;  in  fatal  cases,  drowsiness  in- 
creases, breathing  becomes  more  embarrassed,  lungs 
congested,  skin  covered  with  cold  sweat;  finally,  coma, 
asphyxia,  and  death. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  croup  are  not  thoroughly 
understood.  Many  physicians  now  believe  it  to  be 
identical  with  diphtheria.  It  is  well  known  that  in 
many  cases,  at  least,  croup  is  contagious,  and  hence 
should  be  treated  as  a  contagious  malady  like  diph- 
theria, scarlet  fever,  or  smallpox.  It  occurs  most  fre- 
quently in  children  from  two  to  six  years  of  age,  more 
often  in  boys  than  in  girls.  The  disease  is  character- 
ized by  the  formation  of  a  false  membrane  in  the  larynx 
and  trachea.  It  sometimes  also  affects  the  pharynx. 
The  danger  to  life  is  from  suffocation. 

Treatment. — The  old  treatment,  by  applying  anti- 
mony, mercury,  and  blisters,  was  in  the  highest  degree 
unsuccessful.  According  to  Tanner,  one-half  the  per- 
sons treated  by  this  plan  died.  The  disease  is  a  very 
severe  one  and  sometimes  difficult  to  manage,  but  with 
proper  treatment  from  the  first,  few  cases  will  prove 
fatal. 

Apply  hot  water  to  the  throat  by  means  of  sponges 


HOME    EEMEDIES    FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  745 

or  flannels  wrung  out  in  hot  water,  as  directed  for  acute 
catarrh  of  the  larynx.  If  relief  is  not  quickly  secured, 
exchange  the  hot  applications  for  cold  ones,  and  if  some 
relief  is  obtained,  keep  the  cold  constantly  applied. 
If  necessary,  use  ice  compresses.  This  measure  must 
be  employed  thoroughly  to  be  of  any  value  whatever. 
Early  in  the  disease,  it  may  prevent  the  formation  of 
the  false  membrane.  If  it  is  not  used  early  enough 
or  with  sufficient  thoroughness  to  accomplish  this, 
measures  must  be  employed  to  secure  an  early  sepa- 
ration of  the  false  membrane  from  the  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  larynx.  For  this  purpose  hot  and  cold 
applications  should  be  applied  to  the  throat,  and  the 
patient  should  be  made  to  inhale  the  vapor  of  hot  water, 
as  hot  as  can  be  borne  and  as  large  a  portion  at  a  time 
as  possible.  The  vapor  may  be  inhaled  through  an 
apparatus  for  the  purpose,  or  from  a  teakettle  or  tea- 
pot. A  paper  cone  may  be  arranged  in  such  a  way 
as  to  conduct  the  steam  to  the  patient 's  mouth.  A  very 
excellent  method  of  generating  steam  for  this  purpose 
is  to  slake  lime  in  a  teapot,  and  have  the  patient  inhale 
the  vapor  through  the  nozzle.  We  have  used  this 
method  on  several  occasions  with  complete  success. 
The  vapor  of  warm  vinegar  is  also  sometimes  useful. 
Among  the  most  serviceable  remedies  for  causing  sep- 
aration of  the  false  membrane  may  be  mentioned  lime- 
water,  vinegar,  and  a  strong  solution  of  chlorate  of 
potash  taken  by  means  of  an  atomizer.  The  chlorate 
of  potash  solution  should  be  hot  when  taken,  and  the 
patient  should  inhale  it  a  large  part  of  the  time. 

It  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  room  in  which  the  patient  is  placed  should 
be  carefully  regulated.  The  air  should  also  be  kept 
thoroughly  saturated  with  moisture  by  boiling  water 


746  PLAIN   FACTS   FOE   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

or  by  means  of  slaking  lime.  The  latter  method  has 
been  frequently  employed  with  success,  the  lime  being 
placed  in  a  tub  near  the  center  of  the  room  or  near 
the  patient,  and  water  applied  to  it.  Sponging  of  the 
hands,  feet,  arms,  and  limbs  is  also  recommended  for 
this  disease. 

If  the  patient  becomes  so  greatly  exhausted  that 
he  loses  the  ability  to  cough,  although  the  membrane 
may  be  separated  sufficiently  to  allow  expectoration, 
means  should  be  adopted  to  restore  the  patient  as  much 
as  possible.  Dr.  Niemeyer  recommends  placing  the 
patient  in  a  warm  bath  and  pouring  cold  water  on  his 
head,  the  back  of  the  neck,  or  spine,  for  the  purpose 
of  exciting  increased  nervous  activity,  particularly  to 
excite  cough,  thus  enabling  the  patient  to  throw  out 
the  lossened  membrane.  In  case  all  other  measures 
fail,  and  suffocation  seems  impending,  as  shown  by 
increased  difficulty  in  breathing,  blueness  of  the  skin, 
etc.,  the  surgical  operation  of  laryngotomy  or  trache- 
otomy should  be  performed.  This  consists  in  making 
an  opening  into  the  larynx  or  trachea  and  passing  in 
a  silver  tube  through  which  the  patient  can  breathe. 
Life  has  many  times  been  saved  in  this  manner. 


INFLUENZA-CATARRHAL  FEVER— LA 

GRIPPE 

Symptoms.— Chilly  sensations  and  flashes  of  heat; 
cold  in  the  head,  with  copious,  irritating  discharge; 
eyes  red  and  tearful;  tickling  in  the  throat;  hoarse- 
ness; soreness  of  the  throat;  dry,  irritating  cough; 
pain  and  difficulty  in  breathing;  great  weakness;  high 
fever;  sleeplessness,  or  unnatural  drowsiness;  dura- 
tion of  disease  three  to  ten  days. 


HOME    REMEDIES    FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  747 

This  is  a  disease  which  often  affects  whole  cities 
or  states  at  the  same  time,  often  making  its  appear- 
ance with  great  suddenness.  Not  infrequently  lower 
animals  are  affected  at  the  same  time  with  human  be- 
ings. The  disease  is  undoubtedly  infectious,  though 
not  contagious.  It  is  rarely  fatal,  recovery  usually 
occurring  within  a  very  few  days,  although  local  irrita- 
tion of  the  air  passages  and  general  weakness  may 
continue  for  some  time. 

Treatment.— y^SiVTn  blanket  packs,  vapor  baths, 
hot-air  baths,  fomentations  to  the  lungs,  and  cool  or 
tepid  sponging,  with  cool  compresses  when  there  is 
considerable  fever,  are  the  most  im^jortant  measures 
of  treatment.  The  inhalation  of  hot  steam  should  be 
tried  when  there  is  much  bronchial  irritation.  When 
the  nasal  passages  are  obstructed,  much  relief  will 
often  be  obtained  by  rubbing  the  nose  with  sweet  oil 
or  vaseline.  The  Perfection  Vaporizer  and  antiseptic 
throat  solution,  B.  C.  M.  E.  W.,  will  be  found  of  great 
value.  Compound  tincture  of  benzoin,  6  dr. ;  oil  cinna- 
mon, oil  wintergreen,  oil  eucalyptus,  menthol  crystals, 
each,  1  dr.;  alcohol,  15  dr. 


ALCOHOLISM 

Moderate  drinkers  do  not  escape.  ''Chronic  alco- 
holism" is  the  disease  which  fastens  upon  them,  and 
its  symptoms  are  as  distinct  as  those  of  any  other  dis- 
ease. Gout  and  rheumatism  are  the  special  patrons 
of  the  moderate  topers,  the  wine-bibbers.  Neuralgia 
is  another  comforter  of  small  tipplers.  General  nerv- 
ous debility  and  dyspepsia  also  find  a  great  proportion 
of  this  class  among  their  victims. 


748  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

It  is  quite  useless  for  moderate  drinkers  to  sup- 
pose that  by  using  alcohol  in  small  quantities  they 
escape  its  evil  effects.  It  is  a  poison  in  all  doses.  As 
Dr.  Smith  says,  "In  whatever  dose,  the  direction  of 
the  action  of  the  alcohol  must  be  the  same." 

Says  Dr.  Chambers,  "The  action  of  frequent  di- 
vided drams  is  to  jDroduce  the  greatest  amount  of  harm 
of  which  alcohol  is  capable,  with  the  least  amount  of 
good."  It  may  be  said,  without  exaggeration,  that 
moderate  drinking  occasions  all  the  ill  effects  of  intem- 
perance; for  every  drunkard  begins  his  course  as  a 
moderate  drinker. 

James  Miller,  in  his  work  on  alcohol,  says,  "Alco- 
hol to  the  working  human  frame  is  as  a  pin  to  the 
wick  of  an  oil-lamp.  With  this  you  raise  the  wick 
from  time  to  time,  and  each  raising  may  be  followed 
by  a  burst  of  brighter  flame ;  but,  while  you  give  neither 
cotton  nor  oil,  the  existing  supply  of  both  is,  through 
such  pin-work,  all  the  more  speedily  consumed." 

The  effect  of  the  constant  action  of  a  small  quan- 
tity of  the  poison  is  far  greater  than  that  of  excessive, 
but  only  occasional,  quantities.  Hence  the  habitual 
moderate  drinlvcr,  even  of  wine,  beer,  or  hard  cider, 
is  much  more  subject  to  chronic  nervous  disorders  and 
degenerations  of  various  sorts  than  the  man  who  goes 
on  a  spree  once  in  two  or  three  months. 

Hereditary  Effects  of  Alcohol.  —  The  drinker 
himself  is  not  the  only  sufferer  from  his  vice.  In- 
deed, it  seems  in  many  cases  that  he  is  not  the  great- 
est sufferer.  He  may  even  live  out  his  threescore 
years  and  ten,  in  apparent  defiance  of  the  laws  of 
nature  and  the  warnings  of  friends;  but  look  at  his 
children.  Says  the  eminent  Dr.  Parker,  "The  heredi- 
tary influence  of  alcohol  manifests  itself  in  various 


SOWING  THE  TARES 


749-a 


THE   DRUNKARD'S  HARVEST 


749-b 


Cance*. 


Drunkmfd'a  Ring. 


DeUrtum  Tremeiu. 


Gin  Liver. 


Smoker's  Cancer. 


760  EFFECTS  OF  ALCOHOL  AND  TOBACCO 

(From  Dr.  Kellogg's  Colored  Charts  on  "Anatomy,  Physiology,  and  Hygiene.) 

Plate  XIV. 


HOME    REMEDIES   FOR    COMMON    DISEASES  751 

ways.  It  transmits  an  appetite  for  strong  drink  to 
children,  and  these  are  likely  to  have  that  form  of 
drunkenness  which  may  be  termed  paroxysmal;  that 
is,  they  will  go  for  a  considerable  period  without  in- 
dulging, placing  restraints  upon  themselves,  but  at  last 
all  the  barriers  of  self-control  give  way,  they  yield 
to  the  irresistible  appetite,  and  then  their  indulgence 
is  extreme.  The  drunkard  by  inheritance  is  a  more 
helpless  slave  than  his  progenitor,  and  the  children 
that  he  begets  are  more  helpless  still,  unless  on  the 
mother's  side  there  is  engrafted  upon  them  untainted 
stock.  But  its  hereditary  influence  is  not  confined  to 
the  proi3agation  of  drunkards.  It  produces  insanity, 
idiocy,  epilepsy,  and  other  affections  of  the  brain  and 
nervous  system,  not  only  in  the  transgressor  himself, 
but  in  his  children,  and  these  will  transmit  predisposi- 
tion to  any  of  these  diseases." 

Effects  of  Alcohol  upon  the  Character.— The 
ultimate  effects  of  alcohol  upon  the  character  are  well 
shown  by  its  immediate  effects.  As  the  cerebrum  is 
gradually  brought  under  the  influence  of  the  drug,  the 
will  becomes  dormant  and  the  leading  characteristics 
of  the  mind  become  predominant.  A  man  under  the 
influence  of  liquor  shows  out  his  real  character.  The 
restraining  influences  of  culture  and  education  are  lost, 
and  those  tendencies  and  properties  which  have  been 
held  in  check  by  force  of  will,  assert  their  sway,  and 
all  that  is  low  and  beastly  in  the  individual  comes  to 
the  surface.  It  is  this  that  causes  individuals  to  com- 
mit, under  the  influence  of  drink,  crimes  which  they 
would  never  have  perpetrated  in  their  sober  moments. 
It  is  rare  indeed  that  a  premeditated  murder  is  com- 
mitted without  the  murderer  being  under  the  influence 
of  drink.    He  feels  the  need  of  something  to  paralyze 

44  ,  <    . 


/52  PLAIN    FACTS    FOR    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

the  voice  of  conscience  and  make  powerless  the  moral 
force  of  education,  of  natural  regard  for  human  life; 
and  alcohol  does  just  that. 

The  Cure  of  Intemperance.— The  only  cure  for 
a  drunkard  is  total  abstinence.  A  person  who  has 
once  been  greatly  addicted  to  the  use  of  alcohol  can- 
not use  it  in  moderation.  A  person  who  is  suffering 
from  any  of  the  functional  diseases  induced  by  alcohol 
must  relinquish  all  stimulants  if  he  would  recover. 
Substitutes  in  the  shape  of  tobacco,  strong  tea  and 
coffee,  even  of  soda  water,  are  dangerous.  Tobacco 
produces  a  desire  for  liquor  in  one  who  has  been  accus- 
tomed to  drink.  Tea  and  coffee  have  similar  effects, 
though  in  much  less  degree.  The  drinking  of  large 
quantities  of  fluid  of  any  sort  is  injurious,  as  it  pro- 
duces a  relaxed  state  of  the  stomach  which  causes  a 
craving  for  stimulus.  The  ''cinchona  cure"  of  the 
appetite  for  liquor  is  worthless.  The  only  plan  which 
affords  a  way  of  escape  from  the  haunting  clamors 
of  appetite  in  a  person  trying  to  reform  is  that  pro- 
posed by  Mr.  Napier,  who  a  few  years  ago  read  before 
a  learned  society  in  England  a  paper  giving  an  account 
of  the  cure  of  a  large  number  of  cases  of  drunkenness 
by ^  the  adoption  of  a  vegetarian  diet. 


LIMIT  OF  THE  PERIODS  OF  INCUBATION  AND  CON- 
TAGION IN  INFECTIOUS  MALADIES* 

Diphtheria.— The  average  incubation  period  is  two 
days,  more  rarely  four  days,  and  occasionally  seven 
days.    The  virulence  of  contagion  is  very  great.    In- 

*  For  deseripition  and  cure  of  these  and  other  diseases  not  treated  in 
this  work,  see  ' '  Home  Book  of  Modern  Medicine, "  by  J.  H.  Kellogg, 
M.  D. 


HOME   REMEDIES   FOR   COMMON   DISEASES  753 

fection  may  occur  at  any  period  of  the  disease,  and 
the  disease  may  be  communicated  by  contaminated 
clothing  or  any  other  objects,  for  several  months  after 
exposure. 

Measles.— The  incubation  period  of  this  disease 
varies  from  four  to  sixteen  days.  The  danger  of  con- 
tagion exists  during  the  whole  course  of  the  disease, 
but  disappears  very  rapidly  after  convalescence.  Dan- 
ger of  transmission  of  the  disease  through  the  clothing 
probably  exists  only  a  short  time  after  contagion. 

Rotheln  (Rubella) .—The  incubation  period  of  this 
disease  is  very  variable,  the  average  being  about  eight- 
een days.  The  contagion  is  most  active  just  before 
the  appearance  of  the  eruption,  and  during  its  devel- 
opment. The  contagion  period  continues  for  a  short 
time  after  the  eruption  is  fully  developed. 

Mumps.— The  incubation  period  is  the  same  as  that 
for  rotheln.  Contagion  is  greatest  during  the  first 
three  or  four  days. 

Smallpox.-The  average  incubation  period  is 
twelve  days;  the  minimum,  nine  days;  the  maximum, 
fifteen  days.  Contagion  may  occur  at  any  period  of 
the  disease.  Infection  may  occur  through  personal 
contact  or  through  the  clothing. 

Chickenpox.— The  incubation  period  is  fourteen  to 
twenty  days.  It  is  less  contagious  than  smallpox,  and 
is  greatest  during  the  period  of  eruption. 

Scarlet  Fever.— The  incubation  period  is  very  short, 
rarely  reaching  six  days.  The  contagious  elements 
persist  a  long  time  after  recovery,  lasting  three  months 
at  least. 

Typhoid  Fever.— The  average  period  of  incubation 
is  twelve  to  fourteen  days ;  sometimes  nine  days ;  occa- 
sionally twenty-four  days.     Contagion  may  occur  at 


I 


/54  PLAIN    FACTS    FOE    OLD   AND    YOUNG 

any  period  of  the  disease,  and  even  during  two  weeks 
after  recovery.  The  contagious  elements  in  the  dis- 
charges or  clothing  remain  active  at  least  two  months. 


ACCIDENTAL  POISONING 

General  Treatment.— Whatever  treatment  is  em- 
ployed should  be  applied  with  the  utmost  prompt- 
ness and  thoroughness.  As  a  general  rule,  the  first 
thing  to  be  thought  of  is  an  emetic.  A  teaspoonful 
of  ground  mustard,  or  an  equal  quantity  of  powdered 
alum  in  a  goblet  of  warm  water,  generally  acts  with 
promptness.  If  neither  alum  nor  mustard  are  at  hand, 
a  teaspoonful  of  salt  may  be  taken  in  the  same  way, 
or  tepid  water  alone  may  be  employed,  and  if  taken 
rapidly  and  in  sufficient  quantity,  vomiting  will  be  very 
likely  to  occur.  In  case  it  is  not  produced  promptly, 
the  throat  should  be  tickled  with  the  finger  or  a  feather. 
An  eminent  physician  has  recommended  the  following 
as  a  general  antidote  for  poisons.  It  renders  insoluble 
such  poisons  as  zinc,  arsenic,  digitalis,  etc.,  and  so 
makes  them  inert.  A  saturated  solution  of  sulphate 
of  iron,  two  ounces;  calcined  magnesia,  two  ounces; 
washed  animal  charcoal,  or  bone-black,  one  ounce.  The 
iron  solution  should  be  kept  in  one  bottle,  and  the  cal- 
cined magnesia  and  charcoal  in  another.  When  wanted 
for  use,  add  the  contents  of  the  two  bottles  to  a  pint 
of  water,  shake,  and  take  three  to  six  tablespoonfuls. 

Specific  Methods  of  Treatment.— l^early  all  cases 
of  poisoning  may  be  successfully  treated  by  means  of 
some  one  of  the  following  methods,  the  particular  ap- 
plication of  which  is  pointed  out  in  the  alphabetical  list 
of  poisons  which  follow  them: 

Method  1.  — Give  the  patient  at  once  a  teaspoonful 
of  ground  mustard  or  powdered  alum  in  a  glass  of  warm 


HOME   REMEDIES  755 


(not  hot)  water,  giving  afterward  several  glasses  of 
warm  water.  If  vomiting  is  not  quickly  produced,  tickle 
the  throat  with  the  finger  or  with  a  feather.  Repeat  the 
vomiting  until  certain  that  the  stomach  is  completely 
emjDty.  If  the  poison  is  of  an  irritating  character,  give 
milk  or  white  of  egg  after  vomiting. 

Method  2.  — (ALKALIES ).— Give  two  or  three  table- 
spoonfuls  of  vinegar  in  half  a  glass  of  water,  or  the 
juice  of  two  or  three  lemons;  then  give  three  or  four 
tablespoonfuls  of  olive  oil  and  a  large  draught  of  milk. 
Do  not  give  emetics  nor  use  the  stomach-pump.  Am- 
monia, a  volatile  alkali,  when  inhaled,  should  be  anti- 
doted  by  the  inhalation  of  the  vapor  of  hot  vinegar 
by  means  of  a  vapor  inhaler  or  an  ordinary  teapot. 

Method  3.  — (Acids).— Give  a  teaspoonful  of  bak- 
ing soda  in  a  glass  of  milk  or  water.  In  the  absence 
of  soda,  give  a  teaspoonful  of  soft  soap  or  an  equal 
quantity  of  shaved  hard  soap,  magnesia,  or  chalk. 
Give  white  of  egg  and  plenty  of  milk;  but  do  not  use 
emetics  nor  the  stomach-pump. 

Method  4.— (Metallic  Poisons).— Give  white  of 
egg,  either  clear  or  stirred  in  a  little  cold  water,  and 
a  mustard  or  alum  emetic.  After  patient  has  vomited 
freely,  give  plenty  of  milk  or  white  of  egg,  or  a  thin 
mixture  of  wheat  flour  and  milk.  Do  not  wait  to  get 
the  egg  if  it  is  not  convenient,  but  give  emetic  at  once 
and  egg  afterward. 

Method  5.  — (Narcotic  Poisons).— Give  two  or 
three  tablespoonfuls  of  powdered  charcoal.  If  a  sup- 
ply is  not  ready  at  hand,  take  a  coal  from  a  wood 
fire,  quench  it,  fold  in  a  towel,  and  crush  as  fine  as 
possible  with  a  hammer  or  mallet.  Next  apply  Method 
1,  or  excite  vomiting  while  the  charcoal  is  being  pre- 
pared.   After  the  patient  vomits,  give  charcoal  again 


756  PLAIN   FACTS   FOB   OLD   AND   YOUNG 

freely.  It  will  do  no  harm  in  almost  any  quantity. 
Apply  ammonia  to  tlie  nostrils,  give  strong  tea  or  cof- 
fee, and  make  alternate  hot  and  cold  applications  to 
the  spine.  Also  apply  friction  to  the  surface,  and 
arouse  the  patient  by  walking  him  about,  if  possible. 
AVhen  the  respiration  becomes  very  weak,  artificial  res- 
piration should  be  resorted  to. 

Method  6.  —  (Compounds  of  Aksenic).  —  Apply 
Method  1,  and  soon  as  possible  give  the  sediment,  or 
precipitate,  obtained  by  adding  ammonia  or  soda  to 
tincture  of  muriate  of  iron.  The  precipitate  should 
be  thrown  on  a  towel  and  rinsed  with  clean  water  two 
or  three  times.  The  tincture  of  iron  can  be  obtained 
at  any  drug  store,  and  should  always  be  kept  in  the 
house  whenever  arsenic  in  any  form  is  kept.  It  is  well 
to  give  milk  and  white  of  egg  freely  after  the  patient 
vomits. 

Method  7.— Apply  Method  1,  then  give  strong  tea 
or  decoction  of  oak-bark,  or  infusion  of  tannin. 

Method  8.— Pour  cold  water  on  the  head,  make 
alternate  hot  and  cold  applications  to  the  spine,  and 
resort  to  artificial  respiration.  Hot  fomentations  over 
the  heart  are  useful  to  excite  this  organ  to  increased 
activity  when  it  is  flagging.  Artificial  warmth,  friction 
to  the  surface,  and  the  inhalation  of  ammonia  are  also 
useful  measures.  In  case  of  asphyxia  from  anesthetics, 
the  patient  should  be  held  with  the  head  downward, 
while  artificial  respiration  is  being  practiced. 

Method  9.— Apply  Method  1,  and  then  make  cold 
applications  to  the  head,  hot  and  cold  applications  to 
the  spine,  and  surround  the  patient  with  hot  bottles  or 
hot-water  bags,  or  administer  a  hot  bath  or  a  hot  blan- 
ket pack.  Apply  a  hot  fomentation  over  the  heart. 
Make  patient  drink  copiously  of  hot  drink  of  some  kind. 


HOME    REMEDIES  757 

POISONS  AND  THEIR  ANTIDOTES 


NAME 

ANTIDOTE 

NAME 

ANTIDOTE 

OF 

AND 

OF 

AND 

POISON. 

TREATMENT. 

POISON. 

TREATMENT, 

Acid,  Acetic 

Method  3. 

Chlorine  Gas ,. 

Method  8  and  inhalation 

Acid,  Muriatic  or  Hy 

of  ammonia,  other  or 

drochloric  

Method  3. 

alcohol,  and  steam. 

Acid,  Nitric 

Method  3. 
Method  3. 

Caustics  (See  Acids  and 
Alkalies)  

Acid,  Sulphuric    

Acid,    Hydrocyanic   or 

Chloral    

Methods.  Artificial  res- 

Method  Sand  inhalation 
of  ammonia  and  chlo- 

pirat.on   with    hcaJ 

down. 

rine  from  moist  chlo- 

Chloroform    

Methods.  Artificial  res- 

ride of  lime. 

piration  with  head 
down. 

Acid  Citric 

Method  3. 

Method   3.     Give    also 
powdered     chalk    or 

Chloride  of  Iron  

Acid,  Oxalic 

Method     1,    magnesia. 

plenty  of  tea. 

plaster,  sweetened 
lime-water,  and  milk. 

Chromium .. 

Method  1,  magnesia  or 
chalk  In  milk,  white 

Acid,  Arsenioue 

Method  6. 

of  egg. 

Method  3. 
Methods. 
Method  5. 
Method  1. 
Method  1. 

Cocculus  Indicus    

Colchicum   

Copper    and   its   com- 
pounds   

Method  6. 

Method  5. 

Method  4. 

Method  1,  magnesia, 
large  drafts  of  tea. 

Alum  

Method  2  and   inhala- 
tion of  steam  for  sev- 

Corrosive Sublimate    . . 

Method  4, 

eral  hours. 

Cotton  Root 

Method  1, 

Stimulants,  artificial 
respiration. 

Creosote  

Method  3. 

Cream  of  Tartar 

Method  1. 

Antimony       

Method  7. 

CrotonOil, 

Warm- water  emetic. 

Arsenic  and  its  prepa- 

milk,  and   white    of 

rations 

Method  6. 

eggs. 

Atropia 

Method  5. 

Cyanide  of  Potash    .... 

Method  8  and    inhala- 

AquaFortia  

Method  3. 

tion  of  ammonia  and 
of  chlorine  from  moist 

Method  3. 

Barium   and  its   com- 

Deadly Nightshade    ... 

Method  5. 

pounds 

Method  1  and  Glauber's 
or  Epsom  salts. 

Digitalis   

Method  5  with  fomenta- 
tions over  the  heart. 

Belladonna   

Method  5. 

Elaterium    

Method  1 

Bitter  Almonds,es8ence 

Methods  and  inhalation 
of  chlorine  from  moist 
chloride  of  lime. 

Ergot   

Ether    

Method  1. 

Method  8  with  the  head 

down. 

Bitter  Sweet  .. 

Method  1. 

Fungi  

Method  9. 

Bismuth    

Method  4. 

Fool's-Parsley 

Method  9. 

Blue  Vitriol 

Method  4. 

Fox-glove  

Method  5 

Inhalation  of  ammonia 
and  vapor  of  alcohol. 

Gases,  poisonous 

Gamboge    

Method  8. 

Method  1. 

Calabar  Bean   

Method  5. 

Garden  Nightshade     . 

Methods. 

Calomel        

Method  4. 

Gelsemium   

Method  5. 

Camphor 

Method  1. 

Green,  Paris 

Method  6. 

Cantharides    

Method  1. 

Green  Vitriol 

Method  1,  magnesia  and 

Carbolic  Acid     

Method  3. 

copious  drafts  of  tea. 

Carbonic  Acid  Gas   . . . 

Method  8. 

Hartshorn , 

Method  3. 

Carbonic  Oxide  Gas  . . 

Method  8. 

Hellebore        

Method  6. 

Castor  Oil  Seeds    

Method  5. 

Hemlock 

Method  6. 

CoalQaa    

Methods. 

Henbane  

Methods. 

758 


HOME    KEMEDIES  — POISONS 


NAME 

or 

POISON. 


Hydrochloric  Acid  . . . . 
Hydrocyanic  Acid 


Hyoacyamns 
Indigo   


Iodine. 


Iodide  of  Potaeh   

Iron,  Cliloride  and  Sul- 
phate of   .; 


Jalap 

Landanam   

Lead  and  Us  comp'nds 


Litharge 


Lime 


Lobelia  Tnd'n  Tobacco 

Lunar  CauBtic 

Mercury,  its  comp'nds 

Monli's-hood  

Morphia   

Muriatic  Acid 

Mnshrooms  

Narcotics  j,... 

Nicotine   

Nightshade 

Nitrate  of  Silrer 

Nitrate  of  Potash.  ..  .. 
Nitrate  of  Mercury  .... 

Nitre 

Nitric  Acid 

Nitro-Benzol    

NitrouB-Oiide  Qae  .... 
Nitro-Mnriatic  Acid  . . . 
Nux  Vomica 


Oil,  Pennyroyal 

Oil,  Savine 

Oil,  Tansy 

Oil,  Vitriol 

Olcnnder  

Opium  and  its  comp'ds 
Osallc  Acid 


ANTIDOTE 

AND 

TREATMENT. 


ParU  Green 

Peach-pits  

Pearlaoh  

Potato  Balls  ... 
potato  Sproata 


Method  3. 

Method  8   (See  Cyanide 

of  Potash) 
Method  5. 

Method  1   magnesia  in 

millc. 
Method  1  and  starch  or 

flour  paste. 
Method  1. 

Method  1,  magnesia  and 
plenty  of  tea. 

Method  1. 

Method  5, 

Method  4  and  GlanberV 
or  Epsom  salts  in 
tablespoonfui  doses 
in  milk. 

Method  4  and  Glauber's 
or  Epsom  salts  in 
tablespoonfui  doses 
in  milk. 

Method  3,  large  doses 
of  sugar 

MethodO. 

Method  4. 

Method  4. 

Method  5. 

Method  5. 

Method  3. 

Method  9. 

Method  5. 

Method  9. 

Method  5, 

Method  4. 

Method  1. 

Method  4. 

Method  1. 

Method  3. 

Method  9. 

Method  8. 

Method  3. 

Methods  1  and  8.  Inha- 
lation of  chloroform. 

Method  1. 

Method  9. 

Method  9. 

Method  3. 

Method  9. 

Method  5. 

Give  pulverized  plaster 
or  chalk,  or  sweetened 
lime-water,  and  milk. 

Method  6. 

Method  9. 

Method  2. 

Method  9. 

Method  0. 


NAME 

OF 

POISON, 


Phosphorus 

Poke 

Potash 

Potash,  Bitartrate  of  . 
Potash,  Bichromate  of 

Potash,  Cyanide  of 

Potash,  Nitrate  of  . , 
Potash,  Sulphate  of.   .. 
Pruesic  Acid 

Pulsatilla    

Quicklime 

Khnbarb  

Red  Precipitate  

Savine 

Silver  Nitrate  of 

Soothing  Syrups   

Soda  Caustic 

Spigelia    

Stramonium 

Strychnia  

Sugar  of  Lead 

Sulphate  of  Copper  .... 
Sulphate  of  Iron 

Sulphate  of  Zinc  ...... 

Snlphnreted  Hydrogen 

Sulphuric  Acid 

Sulphurous  Acid  Gas 

Tartaric  Acid  

Tartar  Emetic 

Thorn-apple   

Tin,  compounds  of.  ... 

Toadstools  

Tobacco  

Verafrum  

Verdigris  

Vermilion 

White  Lead  

Wa(ter  Hemlock, 

White  Vitriol,    

White  Precipitate     — 

Wolf's-bane 

Yew    . .  * 

Zinc,  ciUoride  of 


ANTIDOTE 

AND 

TREATMENT. 


Method  1  and  skim- 
milk.  Dp  not  give  oil. 

Method  5, 

Method  2. 

Method  1. 

Method  4.  Also  give 
chalk  or  magnesia. 

Method  8  (See  Cyanide 
of  Potash). 

Method  1. 

Method  1. 

Method  8.  Inhale  am- 
monia and  chlorine 
from  moist  chloride 
of  lime. 

Methods. 

Method  2. 

Metho^l. 

Method  4. 

Method  9. 

Method  4. 

Method  5. 

Method  2. 

Method  5. 

Method  5. 

Methods  1  and  8,  Inha- 
■  lation  of  chloroform. 

Method  4,  Glauber's  or 
Epsom  salts  in  table- 
spoonful  doses  In 
milk. 

Method  4. 

Method  1,  magnesia  and 
tea. 

Warm-water  emetic, 
plenty  of  milk. 

Method  8. 

Method  3. 

Method  8. 

Method  3. 

Method  7. 

Method  5. 

Method  1. 

Method  9. 

Method  9. 

Method  7. 

Method  4. 

Method  4. 

Method  4.  Glauber's  or 
Epsom  salts  in  table- 
spoonful  doses  in 
milk. 

Method  6. 

Warm  water  emetitt, 
milk. 

Method  4 

Method  6. 

Method  9. 

MetlwdL. 


OBSTETRICS,  OR  MIDWIFERY 


WE  shall  not  attempt  to  enter  into  the  technicali- 
ties of  this  subject,  as  this  is  forbidden  both  by 
the  object  of  this  work  and  the  space  which  can 
be  properly  devoted  to  it.  We  wish,  however,  to  espe- 
cially emphasize  the  fact  that  the  art  of  midwifery  is 
one  which  is  worthy  of  the  very  highest  skill  and  ability. 
The  once  popular  notion  that  it  is  something  that  should 
be  left  entirely  to  nurses  and  old  women  is  in  the  high- 
est degree  pernicious.  While  childbirth  is  a  function 
which,  when  naturally  performed,  is  attended  by  little 
risk  to  either  mother  or  child,  and  requires  but  a  very 
moderate  amount  of  skill  or  knowledge  to  meet  all  the 
necessary  requirements,  yet  various  accidents,  irregu- 
larities, abnormal  conditions,  and  unexpected  deviations 
from  the  natural  course  of  events  are  likely  to  occur 
at  any  time,  without  previous  warning,  being  often  of 
so  serious  a  nature  as  to  threaten  the  life  of  both 
mother  and  child.  To  meet  some  of  these  emergencies, 
the  very  highest  skill  and  the  fullest  knowledge  are 
often  required.  Hence  this  essential  art  should  not 
be  left  in  the  hands  of  the  ignorant;  and  it  is  impor- 
tant that  the  public  should  be  informed  upon  the  sub- 
ject sufficiently  to  at  least  appreciate  the  necessity  for, 
and  the  full  value  of,  skill  and  experience  in  this  de- 
partment of  medical  science. 

In  cases  in  which  the  pain  begins  and  ends  with  the 
menstrual  flow,  relief  may  generally  be  obtained  by 
dilatation  of  the  neck  of  the  womb,  an  operation  which 

759 


760  PLAIN    FACTS 


is  devoid  of  danger  wlien  performed  under  the  aseptic 
conditions  which  are  now  so  thoroughly  understood. 
Having  mentioned  in  a  previous  chapter  (page  484) 
the  essential  points  relating  to  the  hygiene  of  preg- 
nancy, we  pass  immediately  to  the  consideration  of— 


LABOR,  OR  CHILDBIRTH 

The  duration  of  pregnancy  is  generally  from  278 
to  300  days.  At  the  end  of  this  period,  labor,  or  par- 
turition, occurs,  the  process  by  which  the  new  human 
being  is  brought  into  the  world.  This  process  some- 
times begins  suddenly,  but  generally  gives  indications 
of  its  approach  for  some  days  or  at  least  hours. 

The  symptoms  of  the  approaching  conclusion  are, 
gradually  increased  irritability  of  the  bladder,  with 
much  difficulty  in  standing  or  walking,  and  a  change 
in  form  of  the  abdomen,  which  results  from  the  set- 
tling down  of  the  womb,  leaving  the  waist  smaller,  but 
increasing  the  prominence  of  the  lower  portion  of  the 
abdomen  a  short  time  before  the  labor  is  to  begin. 
Also  the  external  parts  become  swollen,  and  there  is  a 
leucorrheal  discharge  of  a  thick,  clear  matter  somewhat 
resembling  the  white  of  an  egg.  Uterine  contractions, 
quite  painless  in  character,  are  also  indicative  of  the  ap- 
proaching crisis.  These  contractions  at  first  occur  at 
irregular  intervals.  "VATien  they  become  regular,  the 
labor  has  begun.  The  pains  usually  begin  in  the  back 
and  sacrum,  and  extend  to  the  front  part  of  the  abdo- 
men. Wliat  are  termed  false  labor  pains  arise  from 
colic,  constipation,  or  irritation  of  the  bowels.  They 
differ  from  labor  pains  in  being  irregular.  The  term 
pain,  as  used  in  obstetrics,  is  applied  to  the  spasmodic 


OBSTETRICS,    OR   MIDWIFERY  761 

uterine  contractions  which  take  place,  together  with 
the  pain  incident  to  the  same. 

Presentation  and  Position.— The  term  presenta- 
tion has  reference  to  the  particular  part  of  the  body 
which  presents  at  the  mouth  of  the  womb.  The  term 
position  has  reference  to  the  location  of  the  presenting 
part  in  the  passages  of  the  mother.  The  most  usual 
presentation  is  the  head.  Occasionally  the  other  ex- 
tremity of  the  trunk  takes  precedence,  forming  what 
is  termed  a  ''breech  presentation."  In  still  other  cases 
the  body  lies  crosswise  of  the  outlet,  a  presentation 
which  must  be  modified  in  some  way  before  the  infant 
can  be  born. 

There  are  various  modifications  of  each  of  these 
classes  of  presentation,  that  is,  other  parts  of  the  head 
ma}"  present.  In  a  perfectly  natural  labor,  the  vertex 
of  the  head  is  the  presenting  part. 

Stages  of  Labor.— The  labor  is  divided  into  three 
stages : 

1.  Dilation  of  the  mouth  of  the  womb.  This  is  indi- 
cated by  cutting  pains  felt  mostly  in  the  back,  contrac- 
tions taking  place  in  the  womb  only,  and  gradually 
growing  more  and  more  frequent  until  the  neck  of  the 
womb  is  fully  dilated. 

2.  Expulsion  of  the  child,  by  means  of  stronger  con- 
tractions, in  which  the  abdominal  muscles  contract,  as 
well  as  the  uterus. 

3.  The  expulsion  of  the  after-birth. 

The  average  length  of  labor  in  women  who  have 
previously  borne  children  is  about  six  hours,  the  first 
four  of  which  are  occupied  in  the  first  stage,  and  the 
latter  two  in  the  second  stage.  The  after-birth  is  often 
expelled  at  once  after  the  expulsion  of  the  child,  but  is 
more  often  retained  five  to  thirty  minutes. 


762  PLAIN    EACTS 


The  first  and  second  stages  of  labor  are  generally 
considerably  prolonged.  Some  women,  especially  those 
who  have  broad  hips  and  are  well  adapted  to  child- 
birth, pass  through  the  process  of  labor  in  a  much 
shorter  space  of  time,  in  some  cases  not  more  than 
thirty  minutes  or  an  hour  being  occupied.  In  women 
who  have  not  borne  children  before,  especially  those 
who  are  somewhat  advanced  in  life,  labor  is  often 
greatly  prolonged. 

Various  obstacles  frequently  arise  to  delay  the  proc- 
ess; such  as,  inactivity  of  the  womb,  rigidity  of  the 
neck  of  the  womb  or  of  the  perineum,  and  contracted 
pelvis. 

Management  of  Labor.— In  the  first  place,  the 
services  of  a  competent  attendant  should  be  secured. 
The  attendant  should,  if  possible,  be  a  thoroughly 
trained  physician.  This  is  a  field  in  which  woman  as 
a  physician  can  fill  a  very  useful  sphere.  Under  no 
circumstances,  except  in  emergencies,  should  the  im- 
portant process  of  parturition  be  placed  wholly  in  the 
hands  of  a  midwife  whose  qualifications,  such  as  she 
may  possess,  are  wholly  derived  from  experience  at 
the  bedside,  no  matter  how  large  may  be  the  number 
of  cases  she  has  attended.  No  one  person  could  by 
practical  experience  alone  in  a  lifetime  acquire  all  the 
knowledge  necessary  to  meet  the  urgent  emergencies 
which  are  liable  to  arise  at  any  time  in  childbirth.  The 
science  and  art  of  obstetrics  have  been  developed  by 
a  very  slow  process,  and  as  they  exist  at  the  present 
day,  are  the  result  of  the  combined  experience  of  phy- 
sicians during  the  last  two  thousand  years.  Thorough 
theoretical  knowledge  is  indispensable  as  a  foundation 
for  practical  skill.  This,  of  course,  must  be  supple- 
mented by  actual  experience. 


OBSTETRICS,    OR    MIDWIFERY  763 

As  soon  as  the  first  labor  pains  make  their  appear- 
ance, the  physician  should  be  promptly  notified,  and 
also  the  nurse,  if  the  latter  is  not  already  present.  The 
room  in  which  the  patient  is  to  be  confined  should  be 
a  light,  airy,  and  pleasant  one.  But  few  persons  should 
be  allowed  to  be  present,  and  these  should  be  such  as 
are  desired  by  the  patient,  and  no  others. 

So  far  as  consistent,  all  her  wishes  should  be  com- 
plied with,  so  that  she  may  be  in  a  pleasant  state  of 
mind,  no  mental  influence  present  as  an  obstacle  to 
prevent  the  completion  of  the  process  in  which  her 
physical  and  nervous  powers  will  be  taxed  to  the  utter- 
most. No  remark  of  a  discouraging  nature  should  be 
uttered  in  the  presence  of  the  patient,  but  hope  and 
confidence  should  be  inspired. 

During  the  first  stage  the  patient  need  not  go  to 
bed.  In  fact, 'it  is  better  that  she  should  sit  up,  as  the 
sitting  posture  favors  the  progress  of  labor.  This  need 
not  be  required,  however,  if  the  patient  prefers  to  be 
in  bed.  During  this  stage  the  patient  should  quietly 
allow  nature  to  carry  on  the  work  without  any  attempt 
to  hasten  matters  by  ' '  bearing  down, ' '  as  she  may  often 
be  encouraged  to  do  by  ignorant  friends.  These  vol- 
untary efforts  are  of  no  consequence  until  the  neck 
of  the  womb  is  fully  dilated.  The  patient  should  be 
allowed  to  drink  cold  water  or  weak  lemonade  as 
freely  as  desired;  but  stimulants  should  not  be  given, 
as  they  produce  a  feverish  state  of  the  system  without 
giving  any  real  strength.  Hot  teas  are  also  better 
withheld.  If  the  bowels  have  not  moved  freely,  they 
should  be  relieved  by  a  full  enema. 

During  the  first  stage,  the  bed  should  be  made  in 
readiness.  The  feather  bed,  if  in  use,  should  be  re- 
moved and  replaced  by  a  moderately  hard  mattress. 


764  PLAIN    FACTS 


Over  this  should  be  placed  a  large  rubber  cloth  three 
or  four  feet  wide  and  six  feet  long.  This  should  be 
covered  with  a  comfortable,  and  a  sheet  placed  over  all. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  second  stage  the  patient 
should  go  to  bed,  and  her  clothing  should  be  drawn 
up  under  her  arms,  so  that  it  will  not  be  soiled,  the 
lower  portion  of  the  body  being  protected  by  a  sheet 
or  petticoat.  The  patient  may  lie  on  the  left  side  or 
on  the  back.  If  the  fetus  is  strongly  inclined  toward 
the  right  side,  the  patient  should  lie  upon  the  left  side. 
During  the  severe  pains  which  characterize  the  second 
stage  of  labor,  the  back  of  the  patient  should  be  sup- 
ported by  firm  pressure  with  the  hand.  The  knees 
should  be  drawn  up,  and  fixed  in  such  a  position  as 
to  give  them  support  during  the  pains.  The  nurse 
should  take  hold  of  the  hand  or  wrist  of  the  patient 
to  give  her  an  opportunity  to  make  firm  traction  dur- 
ing the  pain.  In  the  intervals  between  the  pains,  if 
the  patient  is  exhausted,  she  should  be  allowed  to  sleep, 
if  possible,  in  order  to  recuperate  her  strength.  Wlien 
the  face  becomes  hot  and  flushed,  it  should  be  bathed 
with  cool  water.  As  the  termination  of  labor  ap- 
proaches, as  indicated  by  the  increasing  severity  and 
frequency  of  the  pains,  which  at  this  time  often  become 
almost  continuous,  a  large  pailful  of  hot  water  should 
be  brought  to  the  bedside,  together  with  a  large  pan, 
to  be  ready  for  any  emergency.  A  siphon  syringe 
should  be  filled  with  hot  water  and  held  ready  for  use. 
A  bottle  of  camphor  should  also  be  at  hand,  and  a 
strong  cord,  made  of  silk  or  linen  thread  twisted  and 
well  waxed,  with  a  pair  of  scissors,  should  be  in  readi- 
ness for  prompt  use. 

As  the  head  of  the  child  presses  severely  upon  the 
perineum,   the   efforts   of   the   patient   should   be   re- 


OBSTETRICS,    OR    MIDWIFERY  765 

strained,  to  avoid  rupture  by  giving  the  tissues  time 
to  dilate.  As  soon  as  the  head  passes  out,  the  cord 
should  be  felt  for,  as  it  is  sometimes  wound  around 
the  neck  in  such  a  way  as  to  interrupt  the  circulation 
as  the  strain  is  brought  to  bear  upon  it.  It  also  some- 
times happens  that  knots  are  tied  in  it,  which  being 
tightened  by  the  strain  may  cut  off  permaturely  the 
supply  of  blood  from  the  child.  If  the  body  is  not 
speedily  expelled,  the  child  may  be  withdrawn  by  mak- 
ing traction  with  the  finger  placed  in  the  armpit. 

As  soon  as  the  child  is  born,  the  hand  of  the  nurse 
should  be  placed  upon  the  abdomen  of  the  mother  in 
such  a  way  as  to  grasp  the  upper  part  of  the  womb, 
firm  pressure  being  made  for  the  purpose  of  secur- 
ing contraction  of  the  organ.  This  pressure  should 
be  continued  until  the  after-birth  is  expelled  and  the 
bandage  applied. 

The  child  should  be  brought  to  the  edge  of  the 
bed  as  soon  as  it  is  born,  and  examined.  Generally 
it  utters  a  cry  immediately,  which  indicates  that  its 
lungs  are  filled  with  air.  In  case  it  does  not  cry,  but 
breathes  feebly,  or  only  gasps,  the  hand  should  be 
dipped  in  cold  water  and  placed  upon  its  chest,  or  the 
chest  may  be  slapped  with  the  hand.  This  will  gen- 
erally be  sufficient  to  start  the  respiration.  If  the  child 
is  limp  and  pale,  and  makes  no  efforts  whatever  at 
respiration,  it  should  be  immediately  inverted,  being 
held  with  the  head  downward,  and  hot  flannels  should 
be  wrapped  about  it.  Efforts  should  be  made  to  ex- 
cite respiration  by  compressing  the  chest  at  intervals 
of  a  few  seconds.  Care  should  also  be  taken  to  see 
that  the  mouth  is  cleared  of  mucus,  though  this  is  not 
likely  to  be  necessary,  unless  the  child  has  begun  to 
breathe  just  as  the  head  is  being  born  and  has  drawn 


766  PLAIN    FACTS 


mucus  into  the  throat.  If  the  face  has  a  purplish  ap- 
pearance, the  child  should  be  placed  at  once  in  a  warm 
bath,  temperature  105°,  or  as  hot  as  can  be  safely  used 
without  injury  to  the  skin,  and  cold  water  should  be 
dashed  upon  the  chest.  Artificial  respiration  may  also 
be  employed  at  the  same  time.  These  measures  should 
be  continued  for  some  time,  and  should  not  be  aban- 
doned so  long  as  any  evidence  whatever  of  the  action 
of  the  heart  can  be  obtained. 

As  soon  as  the  child  breathes  freely  the  cord  should 
be  tied  in  two  places;  the  first  about  two  inches  from 
the  body,  the  other  about  three  inches.  The  child 
should  then  be  laid  upon  its  side,  not  on  the  back,  as 
the  side  position  favors  the  escape  of  mucus  from  the 
throat. 

Washing  and  Dressing  the  Child.— If  the  birth 
is  a  premature  one,  having  occurred  before  the  infant 
fully  developed,  its  movements  will  be  slight  and  fee- 
ble, its  cry  will  be  very  faint,  and  the  countenance  will 
have  a  peculiarly  old  expression.  Such  a  child  re- 
quires extra  care  and  warmth.  It  should  be  carefully 
wrapped  in  soft  cotton.  Great  care  will  be  required 
in  rearing  it,  as  at  first  it  will  be  too  weak  to  nurse, 
and  must  be  fed  with  a  spoon.  It  should  not  be  washed 
and  dressed  for  some  time,  and  should  be  kept  very 
warm.  Care  should  be  taken  in  washing  the  child  not 
to  expose  it  to  cold,  producing  blueness  of  the  surface, 
as  is  often  done.  The  fact  should  be  remembered  that 
the  infant  during  all  its  life  thus  far  has  been  accus- 
tomed to  a  temperature  of  nearly  100°,  and  being 
wholly  without  protection  when  born,  and  keenly  sus- 
ceptible, it  must  suffer  quite  severely  from  cold. 

The  best  plan  is  to  place  the  child  in  a  warm  bath, 
the  temperature  of  which  is  about  blood  heat,  and  then 


OBSTETRICS,    OR    MIDWIFERY  767 

rub  it  gently  with  a  sponge  dipped  in  warm,  weak 
suds  made  of  castile  soap.  If  the  surface  is  covered 
with  curd-like  matter,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  it 
should  be  smeared  with  a  mixture  of  equal  parts  of 
egg  and  sweet  oil  beaten  up  together.  After  the  bath, 
the  surface  of  the  skin  should  be  anointed  with  a  little 
olive  oil  or  vaseline.  If  some  portions  of  the  curdy 
matter  seem  to  be  firmly  adhesive  to  the  skin,  no  vio- 
lent efforts  should  be  made  to  remove  them,  as  they 
will  dry  and  disappear  in  a  short  time  without  further 
attention.  After  being  thoroughly  washed,  the  child 
should  be  carefully  examined  to  see  that  it  possesses 
no  deformity.  The  outlets  of  the  body  should  receive 
particular  attention,  as  in  some  cases  the  anus  or  ure- 
thra are  closed. 

The  best  method  of  dressing  the  cord  is  this :  Grasp 
the  cord  with  the  thumb  and  finger  close  to  the  body, 
cutting  it  off  at  ligature.  Squeeze  out  all  its  con- 
tents by  pressure  with  the  thumb  and  finger  of  the 
other  hand,  keeping  a  firm  grasp  upon  it  with  the  thumb 
and  finger  first  applied  so  as  to  prevent  hemorrhage. 
Now  apply  another  ligature  about  an  inch  from  the 
end  of  the  stump.  By  this  means  the  cord  will  be  very 
greatly  reduced  in  size  and  may  be  much  more  easily 
dressed  than  when  treated  in  the  usual  way.  Make 
an  opening  through  the  center  of  a  properly  prepared 
layer  of  antiseptic  cotton,  large  enough  to  lay  over 
the  cord.  Slip  this  over  the  cord,  then  fold  up  the 
edges  around  the  cord,  lay  flat  upon  the  abdomen,  and 
cover  with  a  proper  bandage.  "VAHien  treated  in  this 
manner,  the  stump  of  the  cord  will  usually  separate 
in  four  or  five  days,  and  the  resulting  raw  surface  will 
quickly  heal.  It  is  generally  customary  to  next  apply 
what  is  termed  the  belly-band.    This  is  not  so  important 

45 


768  PLAIN    FACTS 


as  many  suppose,  if  indeed  it  is  needed  at  all,  which 
we  very  seriously  doubt.  If  applied,  it  should  not  be 
drawn  too  tight,  and  should  be  fastened  with  tapes  in- 
stead of  pins.  The  best  material  to  use  is  very  soft 
flannel.  When  the  dressing  is  completed,  the  infant 
should  be  placed  in  a  warm  bed;  but  its  head  should 
not  be  covered,  as  it  needs  an  abundance  of  air.  The 
infant,  when  thus  properly  dressed,  generally  sleeps 
several  hours.  When  it  awakes,  it  should  be  applied 
to  the  breast.  Althought  the  milk  is  not  yet  formed, 
the  efforts  of  the  child  to  nurse  will  promote  the  secre- 
tion and  will  also  benefit  the  child,  as  the  first  secretion 
furnished  by  the  breast,  a  watery  fluid  known  as  colos- 
trum, has  a  slightly  laxative  effect  upon  the  bowels 
of  the  infant,  freeing  them  from  their  dark  green  con- 
tents, which  is  termed  meconium. 

The  Binder.— After  the  child  has  been  born  and 
its  immediate  wants  attended  to,  the  binder  or  abdom- 
inal bandage  should  be  applied  to  the  mother.  The 
binder  consists  of  a  double  thickness  of  strong  muslin 
cloth  or  a  large  linen  towel.  It  should  be  applied 
in  such  a  way  as  to  give  the  mother  the  least  possible 
amount  of  inconvenience  in  the  application.  In  fas- 
tening, it  should  be  drawn  so  as  to  fit  the  body  snugly 
and  should  be  pinned  from  before  downward.  The 
bandage  is  generally  applied  more  tightly  than  is  nec- 
essary, the  serious  consequence  of  which  is  not  infre- 
quently prolapsus  of  the  womb.  In  case  there  is  any 
marked  tendency  to  hemorrhage  after  the  birth,  a 
folded  towel  should  be  laid  over  the  womb  beneath  the 
bandage.  The  soiled  clothing  should  next  be  removed. 
Tlie  patient  should  be  washed,  and  wiped  dry,  and  a 
dry,  clean  sheet  with  old  cloths  for  absorbing  the 
discharges  should  be  placed  beneath  the  patient.    Care 


OBSTETRICS,    OR    MIDWIFERY  769 

should  be  taken  that  the  patient  is  warmly  covered. 
A  slight  shivering  will  often  occur,  but  this  is  gener- 
ally from  nervousness.  If  the  patient  has  lost  much 
blood  or  is  very  weak,  the  head  should  be  placed  low; 
only  a  very  small  pillow  or  none  at  all  should  be  used. 
The  patient  should  now  be  allowed  to  rest.  Simple 
drinks  may  be  allowed  at  pleasure,  but  stimulants  are 
rarely  called  for.  The  patient  will  generally  fall  asleep 
if  allowed  to  do  so,  and  will  awake  after  two  or  three 
hours,  very  much  refreshed.  Food  may  be  taken  at 
regular  times,  but  should  be  simple  and  unstimulating. 
Milk,  toast,  oatmeal  porridge,  and  occasionally  soft- 
boiled  eggs,  should  constitute  the  chief  diet.  Beefsteak 
and  other  meats  are  better  avoided. 

Attention  should  be  given  to  the  bowels  and  blad- 
der. If  the  bowels  do  not  move  by  the  second  day,  an 
enema  should  be  administered.  Either  tepid  water  or 
flaxseed  tea  may  be  employed.  The  bladder  should  be 
emptied  within  a  few  hours  after  labor.  If  there  is 
inability  to  urinate,  a  warm  fomentation  may  be  ap- 
plied over  the  bladder  between  the  thighs,  or  a  warm 
douche  administered.  This  will  usually  bring  relief, 
especially  the  latter  measure,  the  patient  being  directed 
to  urinate  while  the  douche  is  being  given.  If  these 
simple  measures  do  not  succeed,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
use  a  catheter.  The  bladder  should  be  relieved  two 
or  three  times  a  day. 

The  first  day,  the  discharge  from  the  womb  is  of 
a  bloody  character;  after  this,  it  gradually  becomes 
watery,  and  in  from  three  to  five  days  it  becomes 
thicker.  This  is  termed  the  locJiial  discharge,  and  gen- 
erally continues  from  one  to  three  weeks.  It  is  often 
checked  for  a  day  or  two  at  the  time  when  the  milk 
secretion  begins.     In  order  to  prevent  the  discharge 


770  PLAIN    FACTS 


from  becoming  offensive,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  the 
vaginal  douche  should  be  taken  at  least  twice  a  day; 
and  when  the  discharge  is  very  profuse,  more  fre- 
quently. The  water  employed  should  be  quite  warm, 
and  should  contain  a  teaspoonful  of  carbolic  acid  dis- 
solved in  a  tablespoonful  of  glycerine  or  alcohol  to 
the  quart  of  water.  The  injection  of  hot  water  not  only 
cleanses  the  parts,  but  stimulates  complete  contraction 
of  the  tissues,  and  thus  prevents  danger  from  hemor- 
rhage, and  hastens  the  process  by  which  the  organ 
returns  to  its  natural  size.  A  solution  of  permanga- 
nate of  potash  in  the  proportion  of  a  teaspoonful  of 
the  crystals  to  a  gallon  of  water,  is  also  an  excellent 
injection  for  use  when  the  discharge  is  offensive.  The 
carbolic  acid  solution  should  be  thoroughly  shaken  be- 
fore it  is  used.  When  blood  reappears  in  the  dis- 
charges after  a  few  days,  it  is  an  indication  that  the 
process  referred  to  is  not  taking  place  regularly  and 
satisfactorily.  This  is  generally  the  result  of  the  pa- 
tient's getting  ujD  too  soon. 

To  Check  the  Secretion  of  Milk.— In  some 
cases  it  becomes  desirable  that  the  secretion  of  milk 
should  be  checked.  This  is  especially  important  in 
cases  of  still-birth.  The  most  effective  measure  for 
checking  the  secretion  of  milk  is  to  require  the  patient 
to  abstain  from  the  use  of  fluids  of  any  sort.  The  food 
should  be  of  a  solid  character.  The  thirst  may  be 
relieved  by  taking  small  quantities  of  ice.  This  should 
be  continued  until  the  fourth  or  fifth  day,  when  there 
will  usually  be  no  further  difficulty.  The  breasts  should 
be  partially  relieved  of  their  contents  by  the  breast- 
pump  or  other  means,  but  should  not  be  entirely  emp- 
tied. The  application  of  the  ice-pack  or  cold  com- 
presses to  the  breasts  is  also  an  excellent  means  for 


OBSTETRICS,   OR   MIDWIFERY  771 

diminishing  the  secretion.  It  is  also  a  good  plan  to 
apply  to  the  breasts  two  or  three  times  a  day  a  mix- 
ture of  equal  parts  of  sweet  oil  and  spirits  of  cam- 
phor, and  to  keep  the  breasts  constantly  covered  with 
a  cloth  saturated  with  spirits  of  camphor. 

To  Promote  the  Secretion  of  Milk.— This  must 
be  accomplished  chiefly  by  regulation  of  the  diet  and 
attention  to  the  general  health,  especially  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  digestion.  The  patient  should  make 
free  use  of  liquid  food,  particularly  fresh  milk,  sweet 
cream,  oatmeal  porridge,  graham  gruel,  and  other 
whole-grain  preparations.  Teas  of  various  kinds  are 
of  little  consequence  and  do  not  increase  the  quantity 
of  milk,  except  by  the  addition  of  water.  The  use  of 
wine,  beer,  ale,  and  other  alcoholic  stimulants  is  a  prac- 
tice to  be  in  the  highest  degree  condemned,  as  it  not 
onl}^  deteriorates  the  quality  of  the  milk,  but  makes  the 
child  liable  to  various  diseases.  An  eminent  physician 
declares  that  in  many  instances  in  which  beer  and  ale 
are  used,  the  infant  is  not  sober  a  moment  from  the 
time  it  begins  nursing  until  it  is  weaned. 

Gentle  manipulation  of  the  nipple  in  imitation  of 
the  act  of  milking  is  in  many  cases  very  efficacious  in 
promoting  the  secretion  of  milk.  By  this  means,  the 
secretion  has  been  produced  in  women  who  had  never 
borne  children,  and  even  in  young  girls  and  men  in 
such  a  quantity  as  to  enable  them  to  perform  the  part 
of  wet-nurse  with  entire  success. 

A  more  complete  treatise  on  these  and  various  other 
phases  of  this  subject,  including  the  use  of  anesthetics, 
and  "Antiseptic  Midwifery,"  may  be  found  in  the 
''Home  Book  of  Modern  Medicine,"  by  J.  H.  Kel- 
logg, M.  D. 


FEEDING  AND  CARE  OF  INFANTS 


THE  fact  that  fully  one-third  of  the  huinan  family 
perish  before  the  age  of  five  years  is  sufficient 
apology  for  devoting  a  brief  section  to  the  con- 
sideration of  this  subject.  Notwithstanding  the  im- 
mense number  of  physicians,  nurses,  and  mothers  who 
have  had  much  experience  in  the  rearing  of  children, 
the  amount  of  accurate  information  on  the  subject  of 
infant  care  and  feeding  possessed  by  the  general  pub- 
lic is  very  meager.  We  shall  endeavor  to  summarize 
as  precisely  as  possible  the  most  reliable  information 
to  be  gathered  from  experience  and  research  on  this 
subject.  

INFANT  DIET 

Carefully  collected  statistics  show  beyond  room  for 
reasonable  doubt  that  the  most  active  cause  of  infan- 
tile disease  is  improper  feeding.  This  cause  is  par- 
ticularly acti\e  during  the  warm  season  of  the  year, 
which  occasions  the  immense  number  of  deaths  from 
various  digestive  disorders  at  this  period.  The  care- 
ful observance  of  the  following  suggestions  will  rarely 
fail  to  secure  immunity  from  disorders  of  the  digestive 
organs : 

1.  Milk  is  the  natural  and  proper  food  for  children 
from  infancy  to  the  age  of  twelve  or  eighteen  months. 
Starchy  foods  cannot  be  digested,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  digestive  element  of  the  salivary  secretion  is 

772 


FEEDING   AND    CARE    OF    INFANTS  773 

not  formed  in  sufficient  quantity  during  the  first  few 
months  of  life  to  render  the  child  able  to  digest  fari- 
naceous foods,  such  as  potatoes,  rice,  fine-flour  bread, 
and  the  like. 

2.  As  a  general  rule,  an  infant  should  be  fed  once 
in  two  or  three  hours  during  the  daytime,  and  once 
at  night,  until  one  month  old.  After  this  time  it  should 
not  be  fed  at  night,  and  it  should  not  take  its  food 
more  frequently  than  once  in  three  hours  during  the 
daytime  until  four  months  of  age.  Between  four  and 
eight  months,  the  intervals  should  be  gradually  pro- 
longed to  four  hours.  After  this  time  the  fourth  meal 
should  be  gradually  dropped,  so  that  at  twelve  months 
the  child  takes  its  food  but  three  times  a  day. 

3.  If  the  child  is  deprived  of  its  natural  food,  a 
healthy  wet-nurse  should  if  possible  be  secured,— at 
least  until  the  child  is  two  or  three  months  old.  When 
a  suitable  wet-nurse  cannot  be  secured,  milk  from  a 
goat  or  cow  constitutes  the  best  food.  Care  should  be 
taken  in  the  selection  of  cow's  milk,  that  being  pre- 
ferred which  is  obtained  from  a  cow  which  has  calved 
two  or  three  months  previously.  The  health  and  care 
of  the  cow,  particularly  the  character  of  her  food,  are 
matters  of  importance  which  should  receive  attention, 
as  there  is  no  doubt  that  consumption  is  frequently  com- 
municated to  infants  from  cows  whose  lungs  have  be- 
come diseased  through  confinement  in  close  stalls  with 
foul  odors,  and  deficient  and  improper  food.  Cow's 
milk  should  be  diluted  at  first  to  one-half  the  proportion 
being  gradually  increased  as  the  child's  stomach  is 
strong  enough  to  bear  it.  Pure  water,  lime-water, 
barley-water,  and  thin  well-boiled  and  strained  oat- 
meal gruel,  may  be  used  to  dilute  the  milk.  The  object 
of  the  dilution  is,  first,  to  render  it  more  nearly  like 


774  PLAIN    PACTS 


mother's  milk  in  the  proportion  of  nutriment  which  it 
contains,  and  second,  to  render  it  less  liable  to  form 
hard  curds  in  the  stomach,  which  are  very  likely  to 
occur  when  the  milk  is  taken  undiluted. 

4.  Cow's  milk,  or  other  fluid  food,  is  best  given  to  an 
infant  with  a  proper  nursing  bottle.  The  best  forms 
of  nursing  bottles  are  those  which  are  furnished  with 
rubber  caps.  The  cap  should  be  removed  and  well 
cleansed  with  boiling  water  in  which  soda  or  saleratus 
has  been  dissolved  in  proportion  of  a  teaspoonful  to 
a  pint  each  time  the  bottle  is  used.  Both  the  nursing 
bottle  and  the  rubber  nipple  should  be  kept  immersed 
in  a  weak  solution  of  soda  when  not  in  use.  They 
should  also  be  scalded  the  second  time  just  before  the 
child  is  fed.  Cow's  or  goat's  milk  should  be  boiled 
fifteen  minutes  before  feeding,  to  destroy  all  germs. 

5.  The  diet  of  the  mother  while  nursing  is  of  very 
great  importance,  as  anything  that  disturbs  the  system 
of  the  mother  will  more  or  less  affect  that  of  the  nurs- 
ing infant.  Her  food  should  be  nourishing,  simple, 
and  wholesome.  Stimulants  of  all  kinds,  whether  in 
the  form  of  alcoholic  drinks  or  irritable  condiments, 
should  be  carefully  avoided.  Pastry,  desserts,  ice- 
cream and  confectionery,  and  all  similar  articles,  should 
be  wholly  avoided.  The  best  diet  consists  of  oatmeal 
porridge  or  milk  and  the  various  whole-grain  prepara- 
tions, eggs,  and,  with  those  accustomed  to  meat,  a 
moderate  allowance,  together  with  an  abundance  of 
ripe  fruits.  With  reference  to  increasing  and  dimin- 
ishing the  mother's  supply  of  milk  by  regulation  of 
the  diet,  see  paragraph  on  this  subject  elsewhere.  Veg- 
etables, such  as  cabbage,  turnips,  and  carrots,  together 
with  peas,  beans,  and  onions,  which  are  very  likely  to 
produce  colic  in  the  child,  should  be  carefully  avoided. 


FEEDING  AND    CARE    OP    INFANTS  775 

6.  Feeble  infants,  especially  those  who  are  born 
prematurely,  should  be  fed  a  little  more  frequently  than 
others,  and  require  extra  care, 

7.  The  interior  of  a  child's  mouth,  as  well  as  its 
lips,  should  be  carefully  wiped  free  from  milk  or  other 
food  after  feeding,  a  moist  cloth  being  used  for  the 
purpose. 

CAUTION  RESPECTING  INFANT  FEEDING 

1.  Too  frequent  feeding  is  a  very  common  practice, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  active  causes  of  colic  and  vari- 
ous forms  of  indigestion  in  children.  Many  mothers 
wonder  why  the  children  do  not  grow  fleshy  notwith- 
standing they  have  a  voracious  appetite  and  eat  nearly 
all  the  time.  The  simple  reason  is  that  the  food  taken 
is  not  digested  and  assimilated  on  account  of  the  weak- 
ened and  disordered  state  of  the  digestive  organs. 
Frequent  feeding  at  night  is  not  only  unnecessary, 
but  exceedingly  harmful.  After  the  first  month  or  two, 
infants  require  no  food  at  night. 

In  order  to  break  children  of  the  habit  of  eating 
in  the  night  when  the  mothers  have  been  in  the  habit 
of  nursing  them  at  all  hours  of  the  night  as  well  as 
the  daytime,  a  little  warm  water  may  be  given  in  the 
nursing  bottle  instead  of  food.  This  will  often  satisfy 
the  child's  cravings  so  that  it  will  go  to  sleep. 

2.  Overfeeding  is  a  much  more  frequent  error  than 
the  opposite.  Very  frequently  children  are  allowed  to 
take  too  much  at  a  time.  This  is  the  most  common 
cause  of  vomiting  in  infants.  Fortunately  their  stom- 
achs are  so  constructed  that  the  surplus  of  food  may 
be  easily  expelled;  but  sometimes  this  is  not  the  case, 
and  often  very  serious  disorders  of  digestion  result. 


776  PLAIN    FACTS 


3.  The  child  should  never  be  allowed  to  sleep  at 
the  breast,  nor  with  a  nursing  bottle  to  its  mouth. 

4.  The  child  should  never  be  put  to  the  breast  to 
stop  its  crying.  Children  cry  in  consequence  of  dis- 
turbances of  the  stomach  much  more  often  than  from 
hunger.  The  child  will  often  nurse  as  though  hungry 
when  the  stomach  is  already  full  of  undigested  food, 
being  induced  to  do  so  by  the  pain  or  discomfort  which 
it  suffers.  Children  often  cry  in  consequence  of  the 
irritation  of  pins,  but  no  matter  whether  any  other 
cause  for  crying  should  be  found  or  not,  the  child 
should  not  be  nursed  except  at  its  regular  hours. 

5.  No  other  food  but  milk,  except  such  fluids  as  are 
used  to  dilute  cow's  milk,  should  be  used  until  after 
several  teeth  have  made  their  appearance.  As  a  rule, 
bread  and  other  farinaceous  food  cannot  be  digested 
before  the  age  of  seven  or  eight  months.  Meat  should 
never  be  given  to  children  until  after  they  have  ac- 
quired a  sufficient  number  of  teeth  to  masticate  it  thor- 
oughly, and  then  should  be  allowed  only  in  very  small 
quantities  once  a  day.  Young  children  are  very  much 
better  off  without  meat.  Convulsions  in  children  are 
often  due  to  the  use  of  meat. 

6.  Children  should  never  be  given  sugar-teats,  can- 
dies, sweetmeats,  cheese,  nor  pastry.  The  habit  many 
nurses  have  of  feeding  an  infant  sugar  and  water  every 
hour  or  two,  during  the  first  one  or  two  days  of  its  life, 
is  a  practice  which  cannot  be  condemned  too  strongly. 
The  same  may  be  said  to  be  the  cause  of  colic  and 
other  disturbances.  Catnip  tea  and  similar  other  decoc- 
tions used  at  this  time,  are  exceedingly  harmful,  not 
only  disturbing  the  stomach  and  giving  the  child  dis- 
comfort, but  preventing  the  natural  desire  for  food 
and  depriving  the  mother  of  the  benefit  to  be  derived 


i 


FEEDING   AND    CARE    OF    INFANTS  777 

from  suckling  the  child.  Placing  the  child  early  to 
the  breast  is  one  of  the  best  means  of  preventing  '' gath- 
ered breast"  and  securing  a  plentiful  supply  of  milk. 
The  practice  that  many  people  have  of  taking  young 
children  to  the  table  and  feeding  them  bits  of  almost 
everj^thing  on  the  table  cannot  be  too  strongly  discoun- 
tenanced. 

8.  As  a  general  rule,  menstruation  and  pregnancy, 
either  of  which  may  occur  during  nursing,  are  likely 
to  affect  the  child  injuriously,  and  demand  weaning. 
As  a  general  rule,  a  woman  should  discontinue  nurs- 
ing upon  the  occurrence  of  conception  or  pregnancy. 
Three  lives  may  be  affected  injuriously  by  a  neglect 
of  this  rule. 

9.  In  the  warm  season  of  the  year  special  care  must 
be  taken  of  children  that  have  been  weaned  or  that  have 
been  raised  on  the  bottle,  to  avoid  feeding  sour  milk 
or  milk  that  has  become  slightly  changed  by  standing. 
In  very  hot  weather,  milk  sometimes  begins  to  sour  in 
a  very  short  time.  This  is  especially  the  case  when 
milk  pans  or  cans  have  not  been  cleansed  as  thoroughly 
as  they  should  be.  If  either  the  mother  or  nurse  in 
charge  of  an  infant  would  obtain  a  ' '  test  paper, ' '  which 
can  be  found  at  any  drug  store,  and  always  test  the 
child's  milk  when  there  is  any  possibility  of  its  being 
sour,  many  cases  of  illness  and  death  would  be  pre- 
vented. The  process  of  testing  is  a  very  simple  one, 
it  only  being  necessary  to  observe  that  when  the  milk 
is  acid  the  blue  paper  will  be  turned  red,  and  when  it 
is  sweet,  no  change  will  occur. 

10.  Another  danger  to  which  children  are  exposed 
is  the  use  of  milk  which  has  been  poisoned  by  standing 
in  pans  made  of  tin  adulterated  with  lead.  This  danger 
is  now  becoming  quite  a  serious  one.    Infants  are  more 


778  PLAIN    FACTS 


susceptible  to  injury  than  adults  on  account  of  their 
weakness  and  little  vitality. 

11.  Many  mothers  have  sacrificed  their  children  by 
attempting  to  rear  them  upon  the  various  patented 
baby  foods  sold  in  the  stores.  A  majority  of  these  foods 
are  starchy  preparations  which  contain  little  or  no 
nourishment  valuable  for  infants.  Some  of  them, 
particularly  the  various  preparations  made  according 
to  the  directions  of  the  eminent  German  chemist,  Pro- 
fessor Liebig,  are  useful,  but  not  more  so  than  well 
boiled  oatmeal  or  graham  gruel  with  the  addition  of 
cow's  milk.* 

12.  Sexual  excesses  have  a  very  damaging  influ- 
ence upon  the  nursing  infant. 

13.  A  nursing  mother  should  never  give  way  to 
fits  of  anger  or  depressing  emotions  of  any  sort,  but 
endeavor  to  improve  and  sustain  her  general  health  in 
every  possible  way  by  proper  diet,  daily  exercise  in  the 
open  air,  abundance  of  sleep,  avoidance  of  overwork. 

Weaning.— Under  this  head  it  is  important  to  call 
attention  to  the  following  points: 

1.  The  proper  time  for  weaning  a  healthy  infant 
is  at  about  one  year  of  age.  Very  weakly  children 
sometimes  require  longer  nursing.  The  custom  prac- 
ticed by  some  women  of  prolonging  the  nursing  period 
to  two  years  or  more  is  injurious  to  mother  and  child. 

2.  The  process  of  weaning  should  be  conducted 
gradually.  At  the  age  of  eight  or  ten  months  the  child 
may  be  fed  bread  and  milk,  or  oatmeal  porridge  once 


*  Directions  for  feeding  infants  whose  digestive  organs  are  very 
badly  disordered  are  considered  in  the  "Home  Book  of  Modern  Medi- 
cine," from  which,  by  permission  of  the  author.  Dr.  J.  H.  Kellogg,  the 
publishers  of  "Plain  Pacts"  have  borrowed  this  chapter  on  the  "Care 
of  Infants?'' 


J'EEDING   AND    CARE    OF    INFANTS  779 

a  day,  this  article  being  substituted  for  iqo therms  milk. 
As  it  grows  older,  these  foods  may  be  increased,  and 
some  other  articles,  as  perfectly  ripe  fruit,  with  now 
and  then  a  portion  of  a  baked  potato,  simple  soups,  etc., 
may  be  given.  Graham  bread  should  be  invariably 
used  in  preference  to  fine-flour  bread.  If  necessary, 
the  coarsest  of  the  bran  may  be  sifted  out.  By  the 
adoption  of  this  plan,  at  the  end  of  twelve  months 
nursing  may  be  discontinued  altogether. 

From  this  time,  the  diet  of  the  child  should  still 
consist  chiefly  of  graham  bread  and  milk,  baked  pota- 
toes, ripe  fruit,  and  equally  simple  articles  of  food. 
Meat,  coarse  vegetables,  butter,  tea  and  coffee,  mus- 
tard, pepper  and  other  condiments,  pastry,  preserves 
and  sweets  of  all  kinds,  rich  puddings  and  sauces,  des- 
sert, and  all  articles  difficult  of  digestion,  should  never 
be  given  to  young  children;  indeed,  the  world  would  be 
vastly  better  off  if  these  articles  were  never  taken  either 
by  older  children  or  adults.  When  the  child  is  costive, 
oatmeal  porridge  as  a  principal  article  of  diet  is  an 
excellent  means  of  regulating  the  bowels.  In  making 
oatmeal  porridge  the  milk  should  not  be  boiled,  but 
sterilized  and  added  after  the  porridge  is  done. 

3.  As  a  general  rule,  children  should  not  be  weaned 
in  hot  weather,  as  slight  changes  in  diet  are  often  suf- 
ficient to  produce  serious  disturbances  at  this  season 
of  the  year. 

GENERAL  CARE  OF  INFANTS 

The  Bowels  and  Bladder.— The  first  movement  of 
the  bowels  of  a  newly  born  child  is  of  a  green  color. 
After  this,  the  discharges  should  be  uniformly  of  a 
bright  yellow  color.    If  the  bowels  have  a  slight  tend- 


780  PLAIN    FACTS 


ency  to  constipation,  they  should  he  thoroughly  kneaded 
several  times  a  day,  especially  while  the  child  is  taking 
its  morning  bath.  The  cold  compress  worn  about  the 
bowels  is  also  advantageous.  Giving  the  child  one 
or  two  teaspoonfuls  of  cold  water  half  an  hour  be- 
fore nursing  is  also  helpful.  Care  should  be  taken 
that  the  bowels  and  bladder  move  properly. 

Clothing, — The  legs,  arms,  and  neck,  as  well  as 
the  trunk,  should  be  thoroughly  clad  with  a  soft  flannel 
gown,  in  addition  to  which  a  woolen  bandage  should 
be  placed  about  the  trunk.  Care  should  be  taken  in 
placing  the  binder,  not  to  draw  it  too  tight,  as  this  is 
one  of  the  most  common  causes  of  prolapsus  of  the 
rectum,  a  not  infrequent  condition  in  young  children. 
The  child  should  not  be  clothed  too  warmly,  as  debili- 
tating perspirations  may  be  induced.  The  tempera- 
ture of  the  room  should  be  kept  at  about  68°  or  70°, 
and  a  proper  degree  of  moisture  should  be  supplied 
by  keeping  a  vessel  of  water  upon  the  stove,  or  keeping 
the  water-pan  of  the  furnace  supplied  with  water.  Too 
much  clothing  should  not  be  worn  upon  the  head  nor 
about  the  neck,  as  these  parts  are  thereby  rendered 
unnaturally  sensitive  and  more  liable  to  cold. 

Bathing.— The  daily  bath  is  of  great  advantage 
to  children,  and  is  soon  much  enjoyed  by  them.  As  a 
general  rule,  there  is  no  danger  that  the  child  will  be 
weakened  in  the  slightest  degree  by  taking  a  tepid 
bath  every  morning  before-  its  breakfast.  The  temper- 
ature of  the  water  employed  should  first  be  about  that 
of  the  body,  but  it  should  be  gradually  lowered,  so  that 
after  a  few  weeks  it  will  not  be  over  80°  to  90°.  Many 
physicians  recommend  a  still  lower  temperature.  It 
may  be  said  that  the  cooler  the  water  employed  the 
more  thorough  is  the  protection  against  taking  cold. 


I 


FEEDING   AND    CARE    OF    INFANTS  781 

No  fears  whatever  need  be  entertained  that  the  child 
will  contract  a  cold  by  taking  a  cool  bath.  The  whole 
surface  of  the  body  should  be  thoroughly  rubbed.  It 
is  also  well  to  anoint  the  skin  as  often  as  every  other 
day  with  some  fine  unguent,  as  olive  or  cocoanut  oil, 
or  vaseline.  Fine  castile  soap  should  be  used  in  the 
bath  every  day  or  two. 

Sleeping.— A  healthy  child  sleeps  nearly  five-sixths 
of  the  time  during  the  first  few  weeks  of  its  life.  The 
infant  should  be  taught  to  go  quietly  to  sleep  while 
lying  in  its  crib,  without  rocking,  petting,  or  carrying 
in  the  arms.  If  the  child  is  taught  correct  habits  at 
the  start,  it  will  give  much  less  trouble  than  if  humored 
and  petted  until  it  makes  unnecessary  demands.  The 
face  of  a  child  should  never  be  covered  during  sleep, 
as  it,  like  older  people,  needs  an  abundance  of  fresh 
air.  As  a  general  rule,  it  is  better  that  the  infant 
should  not  sleep  in  the  same  bed  with  an  older  person, 
even  its  mother.  In  cold  weather,  when  it  needs  addi- 
tional warmth,  one  or  two  large  bottles  filled  with 
warm  water  may  be  laid  beside  it.  Its  crib  should  be 
well  padded  upon  the  inside  so  as  to  protect  the  child 
from  injury  from  the  hard  framework. 

Exercise.  — Although  it  is  unnecessary  that  infants 
should  be  constantly  carried  about,  which  is  injurious 
to  them  as  well,  it  is  important  that  young  children 
should  be  taken  up  several  times  a  day  and  carried  for 
a  few  moments.  This  is  especially  true  in  the  case  of 
very  feeble  children.  If  allowed  to  lie  too  long  upon 
the  back,  congestion  of  the  lungs  may  be  occasioned. 
After  an  infant  is  a  month  old,  it  may  be  safely  taken 
out  in  pleasant  weather  at  any  season  of  the  year,  pro- 
vided it  is  properly  protected.  In  cold  weather  it  is 
better  that  the  child  should  be  carried  in  the  arms  in- 


782  PLAIN    FACTS 


stead  of  being  drawn  in  a  cart,  as  there  will  be  less 
liability  of  its  getting  chilled.  It  should  also  be  ex- 
posed to  the  sun  daily,  or  as  often  as  possible.  Care 
should  be  taken  to  protect  the  infant's  eyes  from  the 
glare  of  sunlight. 

Nurses  should  use  caution  in  carrying  infants  not 
to  hold  them  always  upon  the  same  arm.  The  neglect 
of  this  rule  sometimes  results  in  deformity.  Children 
should  not  be  urged  to  walk  too  early,  or  before  the 
limbs  are  sufficiently  strong  to  support  the  body  well. 

Teething.— During  this  troublesome  period  chil- 
dren require  special  care,  as  the  digestive  organs  are 
more  liable  to  become  disordered  than  at  any  other 
time.  The  child  is  often  fretful  and  restless;  and  if 
it  escapes  being  treated  for  worms  half  a  dozen  times, 
although  innocent  of  harboring  any  such  vermin,  it  is 
unusually  fortunate.  Teething  is  generally  held  re- 
sponsible for  every  disease  which  occurs  during  the 
period  of  cutting  the  teeth.  It  is  probable,  however, 
that  the  process  of  teething  is  really  responsible  for 
only  a  small  part  of  v/hat  is  charged  to  it.  Lancing  the 
gums  is  seldom  called  for.  The  tissue  covering  the 
teeth  is  not  sufficiently  tense  to  require  cutting  to  allow 
them  to  protrude.  In  fact  they  do  not  tear  their  way 
out,  but  the  tissue  covering  is  gradually  absorbed. 
About  the  only  occasion  for  lancing  the  gums  is  the 
occurrence  of  infantile  convulsions.  Rubbing  the  teeth 
with  very  hard  substances  is  also  questionable  treat- 
ment. All  the  rubbing  required  will  generally  be  per- 
formed by  the  child  itself  with  the  finger  or  thumb. 

Bowel  Disorders.  — There  is  always  an  enor- 
mous increase  in  the  mortality  rates  during  the  sum- 
mer months,   the   result  of  the  great  prevalence  of 


FEEDING  AND  CARE  OP  INFANTS  783 

bowel  disorders  in  children  at  this  season  of  the  year, 
partly  due  to  the  depressing  effects  of  heat,  but  chiefly 
to  infection  of  the  intestine  with  putrefactive  germs, 
the  most  common  source  of  which  is  cow's  milk. 

The  bacterial  examinations  of  cow's  milk  some- 
times show  100,000,000  germs  to  the  teaspoonful,  and 
even  more.  Milk  inspectors  are  ready  to  pass  a  speci- 
men of  milk  as  commercially  pure  that  contains  no 
more  than  800,000  germs  to  the  teaspoonful,  and  even 
so-called  certified  milk  is  permitted  to  contain  40,000 
germs  to  the  teaspoonful ;  so  it  is  apparent  that  there 
is  abundant  opportunity  for  infection  of  the  intestines 
of  bottle-fed  children.  The  greatest  care  should  be 
taken  in  the  feeding  of  children,  during  this  season  of 
the  year.  If  cow's  milk  is  used,  certified  milk  should 
be  obtained  if  possible.  When  certified  milk  cannot  be 
obtained,  the  milk  should  be  sterilized  and  should  be 
supplemented  by  fruit  juices.  One  or  two  oranges 
daily,  between  feedings,  will  supply  certain  elements 
which  are  destroyed  by  sterilizing  or  cooking  the  milk. 

An  acute  attack  of  intestinal  disorder  in  a  young 
child  is  best  treated  by  withholding  all  food.  The  child 
should  receive  nothing  but  water  for  two  or  three  days. 
Barley  gruel,  or  still  better,  rice  gruel,  may  be  first 
given,  either  with  or  without  a  little  buttermilk  or 
whey.  Buttermilk  may  be  increased  as  the  symptoms 
subside.  Whenever  the  bowel  discharges  of  a  young 
child  become  offensive,  attention  should  be  given  at 
once  to  the  feeding.  A  diet  of  buttermilk  and  rice,  par- 
ticularly of  Toasted  Rice  Flakes  or  Rice  Biscuit,  is  well 
suited  to  such  a  case  and  will  probably  prevent  a  more 
severe  attack.  Yogurt  buttermilk  is  best.  When  this 
is  not  obtainable,  Yogurt  Tablets  or  Yogurt  Cheese 
may  be  used  instead. 

46 


INDEX  OF  TOPICS 


PAGE 

Abdomen,  relaxed 619 

Abdominal  bandage..  589,607 
Abdominal  supporter,  604,694 

Abortion 550 

Abortion,  results 557 

Accidental  poisoning: 754 

Accidental  pregnancies...  524 

Acne,  or  pimples 290 

Afterbirth 112 

Age  for  marriage 149 

Air  breathing 50,  695 

Alcoholism 747-752 

Alcohol  when  nursing 114 

Amenorrhea 129,131,588 

Anatomical  museum 361 

Anatomy,  general 37 

Anatomy  of  reproductive 

organs 115 

Animal  embryos 82 

Animals,  fecundation 92 

Animals,  sexual  organs..    89 

Animalcules 68 

Animals  and  vegetables..    70 

Ante-natal  influences 488 

Antidotes  for  poisons 757 

Anthers  of  flowers..  86,  93,  97 
Arm  and  trunk  exercises.  673 

Appetite,  capricious 288 

Appliances  for  the  home..  694 

Arteries  and  veins 45 

Athletes,  continence 514 

Atrophy  of  breasts 317 

Atrophy  of  the  testes,  190,  298 
Atrophy,  or    wasting    of 

testes , 298 

Avoiding  infection 714 


Back,  pain  in 720 

Bacteria 74,716,733 

Bad  positions 288 

Bad  company 403 

Bad  books 406 

Bad  habits 409 

Bad  language 405 

Balanitis 650 

Barnacle 76.104 

Barnyard 681 

Bashfulness 285 

Bathing 206,340,349,720 

Bathing  infants 780 

Bath,  sitz 345-6 

Beauty,  how  marred 443 

Beauty,  how  developed.. .  438 

Beer,  evil  effects 409 

Beer  for  nursing  mothers,  114 
Bees  and  fertilisation..  97.102 


Page 

Betrothal  of  infants 157 

Bible  against  polygamy. .  167 

Bicycling 674 

Bile  uses 56 

Biliousness 722 

Bilious  attacks 717 

Binder,  the 768 

Birth,  changes  at 113 

Births 112-13 

Biting  finger  nails 290 

Bladder  douche 351,609 

Bladder  disorders 609 

Bladder,  prolapsus  of 603 

Bladder,  irritation 

234,  278,  294 

Bladder,  stone  in 296 

Blood 45-9,372  624,697 

Boarding-schools 458 

Body  temple 37 

Boldness 285 

Bones, 200 40 

Books,  sentimental 450 

Books,  bad 218,  406 

Bowels 5  4,  579 

Boys,  our  hope 369 

Boys  and  girls 462 

Brain,  three  lbs 61,  81 

Breast,  cancer  of 621 

Breast,  change  in 484 

Breast,  hysterical 606 

Breast,  tumor  of 620 

Breasts 113 

Breasts,  atrophy  of 317 

Breasts  undeveloped 288 

Breath,  foul 473 

Breeding,  cattle 490 

Breathing 84 

Breathing  of   unborn   in 

fants Ill 

Bright's  disease 701 

Brunettes  precocious 120 

Bull  and  ox 194 

Burns,  cure 713 


Calyx  of  flowers 86,  93 

Calculi 610 

Cancer  of  breast 621 

Cancer  of  womb 537,  616 

Capricious  apj)etite 288 

Careful  breeding 490 

Carolina  twins 134 

Care  of  infants 772 

Castration 140,  400 

Catamenia 123 

Catarrhal  fever 746 

Catarrh,  uterine 586 


Fagb 
Cattle  breedtaff 488,  490 

Causes  of  uncbastity.....  233 

Cellars 719 

Cells,  development....  81,572 

Cellulitis 597 

Change  of  life 124,498 

Character  building  ....  28,  370 

Character,  how  ruined 370 

Chastity 188,216 

Chancre 658 

Chancroid 252.  657 

Cherished  offspring 546 

Chest  exercises 669 

Childbirth,  112, 471, 486. 613,  760 

Child  and  the  world 28 

Chlorosis 291,611 

Cholera  infantum 742 

Cholera  morbus 740 

Cicero  on  old  age 428 

Cider 409 

Circulation  of  blood 

47,372,624 

Circumcision 139,325,355 

Civilization,  perverting  in- 
fluence    215 

Clay  eating 289 

Clitoris 101,116  292,326 

Clothing  of  children 683 

Clothing  of  infants 780 

Clothing  and  weather.  716  719 

Cockerel,  breeding 139 

Coffee  and  dyspepsia 691 

Coitus 101.116 

Cold  bathing 352 

Cold  hands 290 

Colds 470,  729 

Colic 739 

Colostrum 114,  768 

Company,  bad 403 

Complemental  males 104 

Conjugal  Onanism 534 

Conception    and    preven- 
tion    107,534 

Condiments 279.  335 

Connection,  painful 608 

Constipation.. 233,  278,  474,  611 
Consumption,  309,  383,  515,  701 
Continence,  difficult..  191,542 

Continence,  helps  to 202 

Continence  of  athletes  ...  514 
Continence  not  injurious..  188 

Constipation 234,  611,  726 

Consequences  of  excesses  513 
Contagious  disease  law  . .  258 
Conversation,  unchaste  . .  211 

Control  of  thoughts 330 

Control  of  dreams 338 


784 


TOPICAL   INDEX 


785 


Confusion  of  ideas 286 

Cold  towel  rub 346 

Controlling  sex 136 

Cool  sitz  bath 345 

Copulation 101,115 

Cord  drill 671 

Corolla  of  flowers 86,  93 

Cornelia  and  her  sons 367 

Courtship 156-8 

Cowper's  glands 116 

Crime  of  abortion 554 

Criminality,  hereditary. . .  492 

Criminal  carelessness 472 

Croup 744 

Cryptogamia  of  flowers..    89 

Cure  of  intemperance 752 

Cure  of  self-abuse 323 

Cure  of  social  evil 256 

Cutting  off  supplies 709 

Cuttle-fish 100,105 

Cystocele......... 603 

Damp  beds 716 

Dancing 231 

Day-dreams 210 

Debility,  nervous 609,  643 

Deceiving  children.. .... ..    30 

Defective  development . . .  282 

Deformities 41,576 

Delsarte 671 

Development    after    con- 
ception   104-7 

Diet  and  chastity.... o  333,451 
Diet  and  impurity....  199,203 

Diet  and  strength 709 

Diet  for  diabetics 723 

Dimness  of  sight 312 

Digestion 54,  720 

Digestive  fluids 54 

Diseased  prostate... 645 

Disease  in  women.. . .  357,564 

Diseases  of  men 625 

Disorders  of  the  bladder.  609 

Disparity  of  age 154 

Displacement 600 

Disposition,  fickle 283 

Diurnal  emissions. . . .  304,  639 

Divine  help.... 331 

Divorce 172 

Domestic  purgatory 155 

Douche,  bladder 351 

Douche,  spinal 351 

Douche,  vaginal..  357,  501.  585 

Down-hill  road 376 

Dozing,  danger  of,  205, 336,  376 

Dreams 211,338 

Dreams,  control  of 338 

Dress  reform. . . .  228,  229,  565 

Dress  and  sensuality .  224 

Dressing  infant 766 

Drinks,  stimulating 335 

Drinking  at  meals 719 

Drones,  how  produced  . . .  103 

Drugs,  rings,  etc 358,565 

Drunkard's  harvest 749 

Duration  of  gestation 1   * 

Dwarfs 35d 

Dyandria  flowers 89 

Dysmenorrhea 594 

Dyspareunia 608 

Dyspepsia,  310, 382, 644,  724,  730 
Dyspepsia  and  coffee 691 


Ear  andils  care.  66, 714, 71  i,  718 


Early  associations 265 

Early  decline 445 

Early  training 249,  261 

Early  structures 108 

Eating  between  meals 718 

Eating  when  tired 720 

Education,  medical 684 

Effects  of  alcohol  and  to- 
bacco    750 

Effects  of  alcohol  on  char- 
acter    751 

Effects  of  vice 253 

Effects    of   masturbation 

in  females 315 

Effects  of  secret  vice  upon 

olTspring 319 

Effects    of   unchastity   in 

males 294 

Ejaculatory  duct 115 

Electricity,  use  of  ... .  354,  587 

Elephant  testicles 90 

Embryo,    structures    and 

growth 82,107-9 

Emissions,  diurnal 639 

Emissions,  nocturnal 

299,338.344,633 

Emissions  not  necessary 

to  health 302 

Emissions,  effects  of 303 

Emissions,  internal 306 

Eminent    authors,    testi- 
mony of 256 

Enema,  the 352,710 

Enlarged  prostate. ... ....  295 

Erosion  of  womb 588 

Epilepsy 311 

Epileptic  fits 291 

Eunuchs 140 

Evening  bath 350 

Evil  associations 272 

Evil  habits 376 

Evil  thoughts 409 

Excesses,       effects        on 

wives 516 

Excesses,  effect  on  char- 
acter   527 

Excesses,  results  of 512 

Excesses,  effects  on  off- 
spring    525 

Excesses,  effects  on  hus- 
bands    512 

Extra-uterine  pregnancy..  131 

Exercise 

204,  330,  661,  668,  699,  715 

Exercise  of  infants 781 

Eyes,  the 65,  721 


Fallopian  tubes  . .  107,  116,  605 

Falling  of  womb 599 

False  modesty 32,  591 

False  training 436 

False  spermaiorrhea 630 

False  to  nature 545 

Fashion  and  vice 228,  249 

Fashionable  dissipation..  229 

Fashion  deformities 576 

"  Fast  girls  " 477 

Feather  beds 337 

Fecundation    in   animals, 
flowers, reptiles,  etc..  92-100 

Feeding  infants 772 

Feeling  apparatus 375 

Females,  imperfect 102 

Female  organs 116 

Fem  lie  organs  in  flowers,    93 


Fetal  heart-beat 435 

Fetus,  respiration Ill 

Fetus,  influenced  through 

the  blood Ill 

Fickleness 284 

Filial  love 368 

Fishes,  development 105 

Fishes,  fecundation 98 

Fistula 614 

Fits,  epileptic 291 

Flirtation 162, 164 

Flowers,  polygamous 89 

Flowers,  female  organs. .     89 

Flowers,  fecundation 93 

Floating  tumor 618  - 

Food  combinations 705 

Fly  plant 51 

Forbidden  fruir 33,  678 

Football 667 

Forbidden  marriages 173 

Foreskin,  or  prepuce 

115,139,276,326,651 

Fomentations 352,  589 

Food,  stimulating 335 

Food,  rich 718 

Foot-ball 667 

Foot  bath 590 

Foul  breath..... 473 

Foundling 546 

France,  courtship  in 156 

Freaks  of  development. . .  134 

Fresh  and  foul  air 695 

Fruit  eaters 708 

Frogs,  fecundation,  50,  98, 105 


Gait,  unsteady 288 

General  debility 281.309 

General  health 341 

Generation,      simple  s't 

forms 75 

Generation,  laws  of 504 

Generation,  spontaneous,    73 
Generation,  physiological,  496 
Genitals,     early     instruc- 
tion   322 

Germs,  bacteria. . .  73.  716,  733 

Gestation 107, 109 

Getting  a  husband 478 

Girlhood 436  439 

Girls,  ill  health  of 446 

Girls  led  astray 448,  477 

Girls,  how  ruined 456,  476 

Gonorrhea 252,  655 

Goddess  Diana 240 

Grain  eaters 707 

Gossip,  foul 212 

Graafian  follicle 127 

Green  sickness 291,611 

Growth, stages  of  embryo,  108 
Guarding  the  home 245 


Habit,  power  of 458 

Harmful  sports 667 

Hayti  mother,  a 487 

Health  and  beauty....  80,438 

Health  and  morality 712 

Health   and  Purity  Publi- 
cations    791 

Health  appliances  for  the 

home 694,796 

Health  Foods 784 

Healthful  dress 489 

Health  hints 660 

Heart,  care  of 44,48 


786 


TOPICAL   INDEX 


Heart  disease. 310 

Heart,  palpitation  of  ...  290 
Help  for  the  fallen. . . .  328,  331 
Hemorrhage  from  womb,  593 
Hereditary      eflects       of 

venereal  disease 255 

Herculaneum 239 

Heredity,  sexual 146,  215 

Hereditary,  application  of 

law  of 150,488 

Heredity  of  crime 49? 

Heredity  of  disease 493 

Hereditary      effects       of 

alcohol 748 

Heredity,  laws  of 495,  525 

Hermaphrodism 76, 103 

Hidden      marriages       of 

flowers 89 

Hip  bath 592 

Hope,  the  only 254 

Hopeful  courage 328 

Horseback  riding.. 663 

Hot  Sitz  bath 345 

Home  gymnasium 668 

Housework 664 

How  to  beget  sound  chil- 
dren   496 

How  to  break  up  a  cold...  729 
How  young  women  fall . . .  227 

Human  buds 103,  442 

Human  form 441 

Human  nature 150 

Husbandj  conduct  of 

419,518,530 

Husbands,  effects  upon  . .  512 
Husbands,  improvident..  182 

Hybrids 135 

Hydrocele 652 

Hydrotherapy 347 

Hygiene  ot  old  age 688 

Hygiene  of  puberty 469 

Hygiene    of     the    meno- 
pause   499 

Hygiene  of  the  muscles..  661 
Hymen,  imperforate..  116,620 

Hysteria 291,  318,  621 

Hysterical  breast 606 

Ideas,  confusion  of 286 

Idiots,  idiocy 314,382 

Idleness 224 

Ignorance,  dangerous 

26,  31,  35,  251 

111  health  of  girls 446 

Impotence  . . .  190,  307,  356,  653 

Imperforate  hymen 620 

Improper  liberties. 477 

Impure  water  test 714 

Indian  women 471 

Indigestion 279,  335,  704 

Indulgence,  menstruation,  524 
Indulgence    during   preg- 
nancy   528 

Infant  diet 772 

Infant,  weaning 778 

Infant,  clothing 780 

Jnfant,  bathing 780 

Infant,  sleeping 781 

Infant,  exercise 781 

Infant,  teething 782 

Infanticide 550 

Infant  intoxication 114 

Infants,  betrothal 157 

Inf hot,  unborn 109-11 

Infection,  avoiding 714 


Inflammation  of  ovaries..  596 
Inflammation  of  womb..  587 

Influenza 746 

Inherited  tendencies..  215.719 

Insanity 313.  393,  454 

Instinct  alesson 503-5 

Instruments  of  crime 556 

Intemperance,  cure 752 

Internal  applications.. 354 

Internal  emissions. ... 306 

Internal  secretions 192 

Intestinal  worms.. 234 

Irreligion 186,  415 

Irritability 236 

Irritation  of  the  bladder. . 

234,278 

Irritation,  ovarian 595 

Irritation ,  spinal 312,  318 

Irritation,  urethral.. .. 294 

Itching  genitals 317 

Jewish  custom 157 

Joseph  and  Herod 412 

Juke  family 492 

Kangaroo,  gestation 110 

Kidneys 60,  579 

Kitchen  exercise 664 

Knights  of  the  forest 507 

Knowledge,  important 26 

Knowledge,  imparting. ...    30 


Labia,  the 116 

Labor 112,760 

Lacerations  at  childbirth,  613 

Lacing 475,  487,  576 

Lager  beer  when  nursing,  114 

La  grippe 746 

Larynx 121 

Lassitude 283 

Law  of  heredity...  150,  215,  488 

Law  of  sex 135 

Laws  of  generation 504 

Legalized  murder 521 

Leg  bath  and  compress  . .  590 
Leucorrhea. . .  235,  315,  485,  584 

Lewdness  of  men 248 

Libidinous  blood 215 

License  of  prostitution. ..  257 
Licentiousness,  results. . .  252 

Life,  life  force 38,  68,  71 

Life,  modern  modes 235 

Life,  origin  of 74 

Life,  when  it  begins,  39,  75,  542 

Life,  uterine Ill 

Limit  of  the  periods  of 
incubation  and  conta- 
gion in  infectious  mala- 
dies   752 

Literature,  poisonous,  221,406 

Liver,  IM  lbs.,  work  of 55 

Long  courtships 158 

Lost  soul 393 

Love  of  solitude 284 

Love,  perverted 210,523 

Lower  animals 503 

Loyalty 160 

Lungs,  2,000  feet 50 

Lust,  effect  upon  child ... .  495 
Luxury,  influence 230 

"Male  continence" 539 


Male  organs 89  115 

Mammae,  atrophy  of 317 

Mammary  glands 113. 128 

Management  of  labor 762 

Manners,  pure 415 

Marriage 149,  343,  418 

Marriage  customs  of  dif- 
ferent nations 150 

Marriage,  early 150 

Marriage,  effects  of  late. .  155 
Marriage,   effects    of    ill- 
mated 154 

Marriage  market 481 

Marriage  of  cousins 178 

Marriage  of  criminals 180 

M  arriage  of  paupers 182 

Marriage,  physical  in- 
fluences of 177 

Marriages  forbidden 173 

Marital  excesses 512-25 

Marital  rights 543 

Massage 575,  727 

Masterpiece  of  God,  37, 369,371 

Masturbation 267,292,  376 

Masturbation,    effects    in 

females 315 

Masturbation,  effects  on 

males 294 

Masturbation,    effects 

upon  offspring 319 

Masturbation,  prevention 

of 320 

Masturbation,     self-helps 

to  cure 327 

Masturbation,    treatment 

of 320 

Maternity 508 

Meals,  regular 719 

Meditation 213 

Melon,  fertilization 97 

Menopause 124 

Menopause,  hygiene  of...  499 

Menorrhagia 590 

Menses 123 

Menstrual    period,   dura- 
tion of 124 

Menstruation  123, 129,  484.  564 
Menstruation,  new  theory 

of 126 

Menstruation,  suppressed  588 

Menstruation,  scanty 590 

Mental    capacity,    failure 

of 284,314 

Mental  culture. . .  .204,  265,  716 

Mental  unchastity 208 

Microscopic  life 38,68,372 

Midwifery 759 

Milk,  to  check  or  promote  770 

Milk,  influence  of 114 

Mineral  springs 715 

Mind  and  thought 62 

Mock  piety 286 

Moderation 532 

Modesty 451,  467 

Modern  life 235,  243 

IV  onandria  flowers 89 

'^   )nkey 125 

Viongrels 185 

Monogamy 171 

Monsters 133 

Mo'  al  contagion 403 

Moi-ality  and  health 712 

Moravians 158 

Morning  bath 34» 

Morning  sickness 484 

Mo*h  2rs,  a  warning. .  .233, 244 


TOPICAL   INDEX 


787 


Mother's  influence 245 

Mothers,  responsibility...  244 
Moths  and   fertilization..    97 

Mouth-breathing 690 

Moving  apparatus 375 

Mucous  patches 658 

Multiple  births 132 

Murder  by  proxy 562 

Muscles 44   661 

Mutual  adaptation.. 151 

Mystery  of  life 27 


Natural  adaptation. .... ..    97 

Nature  cures 713 

Navel,  the 112 

Negrlected  progeny 490 

Ner\'ous  exhaustion 318 

Nerve  cells,  1,200,000,000. .    61 
Nervous  debility.......  309,  643 

Nervous  diseases..  ...311,  643 

Nervous  dyspepsia 724 

Neutral  sitz  bath 346 

Nocturnal  ejaculation  in 

females 317 

Nocturnal  emissions 

299.338,344,633 

Nose    construction 66 

Novel  reading 223 

Novels,  religious 222 

Nurses,  wicked 273 

Nursing 113 

Nutrition 72 

Nutritive  apparatus. .  375 

Nymphae.  the 116 

Nymphomania. . .  .229,  251,  606 


Obscene  literature.. 218 

Obstetrics 759 

Old  men 422 

Old  age 688 

Onanism 534 

Open  air  life 237 

Organized  beings 71 

Organization  and  lif e . 72 

Origin  of  life 74 

Ostrich  eggs 104 

Ovary,  ovaries 

92, 127,  504,  579.  596,  602 

Ovarian  irritation 595 

Ovarian  tumor 617 

Ovaries,   deficient   devel- 
opment    617 

Ovaries,  prolapsus 602 

Ovaries,  inflammation... .  596 

Overeating 334 

Overtraining. 666 

Ovulation 92, 124, 130 

Ovule  of  flowers 89 

Ovum,  size,  discharge.etc. 

..92, 101,  105, 107,  122,  123, 124 
Oyster,  fecundation  in...  100 


Pain  in  back 720 

Pamful  sitting 607 

Painful  connection 608 

Paleness 289 

Pall     Mall     Gaxelte     expo- 

gi^j-gg  .    ^      247 

Palpitation  of  the  heart'. ! !  290 
Parturition,  painless,  112,  486 

Paraphimosis 651 

Paralysis 287 

Partlienogenesis 102 


Passions,  how  excited 

147, 199 

Passion,  inherited.....  146,  215 
Passion,  premature... .. ..  143 

Penis,  the 101, 115,  292, 625 

Periodical  reproduction. .  505 

Phimosis 277,  355.  651 

Physical  culture 332,  668 

Physical  faults 440 

Pictures,  vile 219,409 

Piety,  mock 286 

Piles 278.297 

Pimples 290 

Pistil  of  flowers 86,  89 

Placenta Ill 

Plant  mating 95 

Plants,  sexual  organs  ....    86 

Plants,  sex  in 77 

Pollen .86,93 

Polyandria  flowers 89 

Polyandry 171 

Polygamous  flowers 89 

Polygamy 165 

Pompeii 239 

Poplar,  how  fertilized....    97 
Popular   medical    educa- 
tion    684 

Poultry  breeding. ... . ,  139 

Poverty  and  vice 251 

Precocity 120 

Precocity  of  brunettes ....  120 
Precocity,  dangers  of. ... .  121 

Precocity,  sexual . 143 

Pregnancy. .107,  484 

Pregnancy,  duration 109 

Pregnancy,  extra  uterine,  131 
Pregnancies,  accidental..  524 

Premature  decay 365 

Prepuce,  or  foreskin 

115.139,  355,326,  651 

Prevention  of  conception,  534 
Prevention  of  secret  vice.  320 

Prevention  the  cure. . .  261 

Priapism 296 

Primitive  trace 107 

Progeny,  neglected 490 

Prolapse  of  stomach 613 

Prolapsus  of  ovaries 602 

Prolapsus  of  womb 599 

Prolapsus  of  rectum.. .. ..  297 

P;rolapsus  of  bladder 603 

Positions  in  sleep 718 

Poultry  breeding 139 

Prostate  gland 116 

Prostate,  enlarged. ....... 

646.295,  516 

Prostate,  disease  of 645 

Prostitution  as  remedy. . .  341 

Prostitution  licensed.. 257 

Protoplasm 71 

Pruritis,    or   itching  gen- 
itals  319 

Puberty 117.  470 

Puberty,  premature. .  .118.  122 
Puberty,  hygiene  of. ......  469 

Puberty,  symptoms 469 

Puberty  and  diet 118, 119 

Puberty,  changes 121 

Pubertv,  delay 118 

Puberty  and  climate ..  118 

Pudenda 116 

Pullet  s ,  breeding 139 

j.^ursuit  of  pleasure 246 

Purity  and  faith 214 

Purifying  the  blood 697 

Purifying  apparatus 376 


Quacks 359,  717 

Queen  bees 102 

Queen  Vashti 468 

Quickening 485 

Race  deterioration 260 

Race  rumed  by  boys 384 

Rectocele 603 

Rectum 105,  297 

Reflex  action 228 

"  Reformed  "  rakes 186 

Regular  meals 719 

Relaxed  abdomen 619 

Religion,  help  of 206.  331 

Religious  novels 222 

Reproduction  common  to 

all  things 72 

Reproduction,  function  of  502 
Reproduction     in     lower 

anim  als 503 

Reproduction  in  polyps..  102 
Reproduction    in     honey- 
bee   102 

Reproduction,  modes  of..  102 
Reproduction,  periodical,  505 
Reproductive  apparatus..  376 
Reproductive  elements ...  85 
Reproductive     elements, 

union  of 101 

Reproductive  organs,  an- 
atomy.   115 

Reptiles,  development  in  104 
Reptiles,  fecundation  in..  99 
Respiration  in  woman... .  84 
Respiration  of  the  fetus. .  Ill 

Results  of  abortion-.. 557 

Responsibility    of    moth- 
ers    244 

Results  of  licentiousness.  252 

Results  of  excesses 512 

Rheumatism 735 

Rich  foods 718 

Kights  of  woman 543 

Round  dances 231 

Round  shoulders 287 

Rowing. 663 

Satyriasis 149 

Scanty  menstruation .  590 

Schools,  corruption  in. . . .  272 

Science  lengthens  life 623 

Scrofula 254 

Scrotum,  the 115 

Seal,  testicles 90 

Secretion  of  milk 770 

Secretions,  internal 192 

Secret  vice .377,  445 

Secret  vice,  effects  on  off- 
spring   319 

Secret  vice,  prevalence. . . 

267.  477 

Secret    vice,    prevention 

of 320 

Self-abuse 377 

Self-abuse,  curative  treat- 
ment  320,  324,328 

Self-abuse,  suspicious 

signs... 281 

Self-abuse:  positive  signs  292 
Self-abuse,  causes;  of  271,  276 

Self  help 327 

Self-control..... 264 

Seminal  fluid .90,  92. 115 


788 


TOPICAL   INDEX 


« 


Seminal  weakness.. ......  633 

Senility 430 

Senile  senpualitv 148 

Sensuality  and  dress 224 

Sent'mental  books 450 

Sentimental  literature 2?1 

Sex 75 

Serpents,  fecundation 99 

Sex  controlling: 136 

Sex  in  nature 79 

Sex  lin    plants    and    ani- 
mals.   77-8 

Sex  law  of 135 

Sex  of  fetus 136 

Sexual  activity, limit  of  ..  148 

Sexual  differences 78 

Sexual  education.. 30 

Sexual  gflands 194 

Sexual  hygiene 14? 

Sexual     immorality     not 

necessary.... 34 

Sexual  organs  of   plants 

and  animals 86,  89 

Sexual  perversion 279 

Sexual  precocity.. 143-7 

Shaker  views 539 

Shark  s  eggs 105 

Siamese  twins 134 

Signs  of  pregnancy. . .  484 

Signs  of  self-abuse  ......  280 

Signs,  positive 292 

Signs,  suspicious.........  281 

Sitz  bath 345-6 

Skating 663 

Skin,  20  sq.  ft 58.719 

Sleeping 336 

Sleeplessness... ..  284,715 

Slow  digestion 720 

Smoking  and  Bright's  dis- 
ease   701 

Snails 76,99 

Sodom  and  Gomorrah 239 

Social  evil 238 

Social  ev  il,  causes 248 

Social  evil,  cure 256 

Society,  modern. .....  243,  476 

Solitary  vice I . . .  267 

Solitary  vice,  causes. 271 

Solitude,  love  of 284 

Spare  rooms 718 

Spaying 141 

Special  senses,  failure 312 

Speech,  unchastity 291 

Spermatorrhea 307,  628 

Spermatorrhea,  false 630 

Spermatozoa,    spermato- 
zoon       90 

Spinal  irritation 312,318 

Spleen 579 

Sponges,  living 39 

Spontaneous  generation..    73 

Stages  of  Labor 761 

StaUions 194 

Stamen  of  flowers ......  86,  93 

Starfish 105 

Sterihty 141,316,605,654 

Stigma  of  flowers 89,  93 

Stimulants,  influence  of.. 

279,335 

Stomach,  thirty  feet,  five 

fluids 52,54 

Stomach,  dilatation 730 

Strawberries,  mating. . .  95,  97 

Stricture 295.648 

Stricture,  neck  of  womb. .  618 
Strong  diet......... 709 


Suicide  cause  of 401 

Sunshine 721 

Sunstroke 738 

Superfetation 133 

Suppression  of  the  men- 
ses    588 

Swimming 589 

Swedish  gymnastics..  601,  670 
Symptoms  of  puberty  . . .  469 
Syphilis 252,256,657 


Taste,  nerves  of 67 

Tea  and  coffee 410 

Tea  and  indigestion 704 

Teething 782 

Temperaments 181 

Testes,  atrophy  of 298 

Testicles 90,  115,  297 

Tapeworm,  fecundation...  100 

Thinking  apparatus ..  375 

Thoughts,  control  of 330 

Thoughts,  evil. 209,  409 

Throat  affections 310 

"Till  death  do  us  part"...  160 

Tight  lacing 475,  487,  576 

Time  required  for  digest- 
ing foods 734 

Time  to  marry 149 

Toad  eggs 105 

Tobacco  and  vice 218 

Tobacco  bondage. 675 

Tobacco,  use  of 410 

True  to  Nature 545 

Tuberculosis  254 

Tumor  of  the  breast 620 

Tumor,  ovarian 617 

Tumors,  floating 618 

Tumors,  fibroid 615 

Tumors  of  the  womb .  614 

Tumors,  urethral 608 

Twins 132 


Umbilical  cord Ill 

Unchastity,  mental 208 

Unchastity,  causes 233 

Unchastity,  ancient 241 

Unchastity  of  speech,  211,  291 

Uncleanness,  local 234 

Unconsidered  murders...  540 

Undergarments 716,719 

Union  of  ovum  and  zoos- 
perm  101 

Unprotected      develop- 
ment    104 

Unsuspected  wickedness,  270 

Untrustworthiness 284 

Unwelcomed  child 558 

Urethra 115 

Urethral  irritation 294 

Urethral  tumors 608 

Urinary  diseases 296 

Uterine  catarrh 586 

Uterine  disease , .  316 

Uterinediseases,  cause  of,  521 

Uterine  life Ill 

Uterus.... 106,126,579 

Utriculus 116 


Vaginal  douche 

357,  585,  592,  6'0 

Vaginal  fistula 6.  4 

Vagina,  the 101, 116.  2f  3 

Vaginismus 5i6 


Vaginitis , 585 

Varicocele 298  356,  65? 

Vas  deferens 115,297 

Vegetable  husbands 86 

Venereal  disease,  heredi- 
tary effects 255 

Ventilation 693 

Vesico-vaginal  fistula 614 

Vesicula  seminalis...  115,294 

Vice,  prevalence  of 267 

Vice  and  fashion 228 

Vice  and  tobacco 218 

Vicious  companions 449 

Vile  pictures 407 

Vision,  dimness  of 312 

Vital  force 71 

Vital  organs  of  man  and 

woman 83 

Vulva,  the 116 

Waltz,  sensuality 2.31 

Wand  drill 672 

Warm  feet 720 

Washing     and     dressing 

infant 766 

Water  contamination 693 

Water  filters 692 

Water,  test,  etc 714-15 

Water  treatment  at  home,  347 

Weak  back 287 

Weaning  infants 778 

Wetting  the  bed 291 

Whale,  testes 90 

White  cross  army 262 

Whites 584 

Wicked  nurses 273 

Wild  oats 417 

Willard,  Frances  E 247 

Willow,  how  fertilized 97 

Wine  when  nursing 114 

Wives  and  mothers 483 

Wives,  effects  on 516 

Wives,  in  Russia 157 

Woman's  responsibility..  548 

Woman's  rights-. 543 

Woman's  servitude  . .  543,  482 
Woman's  view   of    danc- 
ing   231 

Woman,      wrong      ideas 

about 416 

Women  in  advanced  life. .  498 

Women  diseases  of 564 

Women,  Hebrew 471 

Women,  Indian 471 

Womb,  cancer 616 

Womb,  deficient  develop- 
ment   617 

Womb,  degeneration 537 

Womb,  hemorrhage. ......  593 

Womb,  inflamed 587 

Womb,  2d  month 485 

Womb,  prolapsus 316,599 

Womb,  retroflection, etc..  316 

Womb,  settling 486 

Womb,  tumors 614 

Womb,  erosion  of 588 

Youthful  flirtation.- 164 

Young  men 414 

Young  women 466 

Young  mothers 484 

Zoosperm 89.  92, 107 


LEADING  HEALTH  BOOKS 

Issued  by  the  Publishers  of  "Plain  Facts" 

HOME  BOOK  OF  MODERN  MEDICINE,  by  J.  H.  Kellogg,  M.  .D. 
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THE  ABT  OF  MASSAGE,  hy  J.  H.  Kellogg,  M.  D.,  member  of  the 
British  Gynecological  Society,  the  International  Periodical  Congress  of  Gynecol- 
ogy and  Obstetrics,  American  and  British  Associations  for  the  Advancement  of 
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The  chapter  on  Rest  Cure  gives  valuable  hints  pertaining  to  this  system  of 
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The  Nauheim  treatment  for  diseases  of  the  heart  and  kidneys,  is  also  de- 
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Contains  a  number  of  new  procedures  not  previously  described  in  any  text 
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Sanitarium  amply  qualifies  him  for  the  authorship  of  this  volume,  the  only  complete, 
practical,  and  fully  illustrated  treatise  on  Massage. 

240  pages  besides  the  47  full-page  illustrations.     Bound  in  cloih,   $2.50. 


THE  STOMACH — The  American  Stomach! — Its  Disorders  and 
How  to  Cure  Them.  By  J.  H.  Kellogg,  M.  D.  The  wooclchuck  has 
fourteen  stomachs,  the  whale  seven,  the  cow  four,  that  they  may  digest  the  various 
non-digestibles  crammed  into  the  ONE  poor  little  sagging,  lagging  pouch  of  the 
strenuous  American  and  numerous  other  people. 

Any  wonder  that  some  have  fits  ? — fits  of  indigestion  ?  Did  you  ever  wonder 
why  your  flabby,  worn-out  food-pocket  can  not  take  care  of  ALL  the  foodstuffs 
which  nature  apportioned  separately  to  the  specially  prepared  digestive  machinery 
of  the  meat-eating  dog,  the  fruit-eating  monkey,  the  grass-eating  cow,  the  fish- 
eating  whale,  and  the  fowls  of  the  air  with  their  gizzard  food-grinders  necessary 
for  all  creatures  lacking  the  means  of  mastication  or  the  sense  to  utilize  it?  Bet- 
ter learn  how  you  are  made  and  what  for  before  the  machinery  stops  because  the 
Bteam  fails  because  the  fuel  was  designed  for  other  kinds  of  boilers  I 

A  million  dollars  would  be  given  gladly  by  hundreds  of  millionaires  for  a  good 
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it  is  good,  or  to  restore  it  if  "playing  out."  Next  thing  to  a  fool  is  the  "brainy 
man"  who  "would  not  give  a  trifle  to  prevent  what  he  would  give  a  thousand 
worlds  to  cure."  Chinese  proverb:  "Most  men  dig  their  graves  with  their  teeth." 
Scotch  proverb:      "Diet  cures  more  than  doctors." 

Wordsworth  says,  "Come  forth  into  the  light  of  things.  Let  Nature  be  your 
teacher."  "Good!"  you  say.  But  don't  stop  there.  "Come  forth  into  the  light!" 
What  light  ?  Light  of  scientific  investigation  by  one  whose  life  has  been  devoted 
to  the  study  of  "THE  STOMACH:  ITS  DISORDERS  AND  HOW  TO  CURB 
THEM."  "Let  Nature  be  your  teacher"  through  acquaintance  with  Nature  or  else 
through  one  who  knows  her  methods.  Had  you  done  this  years  ago,  your  stom- 
ach would  be  all  right.  Being  "out  of  whack,"  begin  your  long  neglected  study 
now — nowl  No  man  ever  plunged  over  the  falls  of  Dyspepsia  who  took  warning 
at  the  first  disturbing  ripples  of  approaching  disaster. 

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the  result  of  more  than  thirty  years'  investigation  and  experience  in  the  treatment 
of  the  various  forms  of  the  disease  commonly  known  as  "dyspepsia,"  explaining  the 
process  of  digestion,  composition  of  foods,  causes  and  symptoms  of  indigestion, 
varieties  of  dyspepsia,  and  the  practical  application  of  home  remedies,  including 
over  twenty  carefully  prepared  diet  lists. 

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SCIENCE  IN  THE  KITCHEN,  by  Mrs.  E.  E.  Kellogg.    The  vital  top'c 

of  victuals  treated  scientifically  and  completely.  A  compendium  of  food  substances 
and  their  dietetic  properties,  with  practical  explanations  of  the  principles  of  health- 
ful cookery. 

You  hear  by  the  scientific  telephone;  you  see  by  the  scientific  electric  light; 
you  move  by  the  scientific  motor  car;  but  you  eat  the  same  old  unscientific  pie- 
crust and  drink  the  same  old  unscientific  poisons  that  killed  your  ancestors:  things 
that  a  cow  could  not  digest;    things  that  a  horse  could  not  work  on. 

Uncle  Sam  can  tell  us  all  about  foods  and  their  preparation  to  make  hens  lay 
eggs,  cows  give  milk,  horses  speedy  and  enduring,  hogs  fat,  etc.,  etc.,  but  not  a 
word  about  improvement  of  human  efficiency  by  scientific  diet,  the  very  first  essen- 
tial to  national  health. 

At  last  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  daughters,  wearied  by  the  old  man's  ignorance  and 
indifference  on  the  vital  topic  of  human  victuals,  has  given  us  "SCIENCE  IN 
THE  KITCHEN."  Science  is  simply  the  discovery  of  Nature's  laws.  The  best 
combinations  of  food  substances  and  the  best  forms  of  preparation  for  easy  assim- 
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Frances  Willard  said,  "The  kitchen  is  often  the  vestibule  of  the  saloon.'  Hor- 
ace Mann  said,  "A  dyspeptic  stomach  is  an  abomination  to  the  Lord."  Frederick 
the  Great  said,  "The  seat  of  courage  is  the  stomach."  Talmage  said,  "Many  a 
Christian  is  trying  to  do  by  prayer  that  which  cannot  be  done  except  through  cor- 

Mrs. '  Kellogg  shows  why  and  how  the  foregoing  statements  are  true.  The 
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gradually  work  something  better  into  the  home  bill  of  fare  for  clearer  heads  and 
stronger  muscles? 

Each  chapter  opens  with  a  scientific  analysis  of  the  various  foods  considered 
therein.  The  first  two  chapters  are  on  "Foods"  and  "The  Digestion  of  Foods. 
The  third,  "Cookery,"  shows  the  danger  of  bad  cookery.  The  fourth,  "The  House- 
hold Workshop,"  discusses  the  ideal  kitchen  and  its  furnishings.  The  fifth  is  "Ce- 
reals and  Their  Preparation."  Every  variety  of  human  food  is  considered  prac- 
tically as  wel'  as  theoreticaly.  Over  500  pages  and  nearly  100  illustrations.  Strong 
art  canvas  binding,  $2.50. 


I 


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